Superconducting Receivers for Space, Balloon, and Ground-Based Sub-Terahertz Radio Telescopes

• Published in: Radiophysics and quantum electronics Vol. 63; no. 7; pp. 479 - 500
• Main Authors: Balega, Yu. Yu, Baryshev, A. M., Bubnov, G. M., Vdovin, V. F., Vdovichev, S. N., Gunbina, A. A., Dmitriev, P. N., Dubrovich, V. K., Zinchenko, I. I., Koshelets, V. P., Lemzyakov, S. A., Nagirnaya, D. V., Rudakov, K. I., Smirnov, A. V., Tarasov, M. A., Filippenko, L. V., Haikin, V. B., Khudchenko, A. V., Chekushkin, A. M., Edelman, V. S., Yusupov, R. A., Yakopov, G. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Astronomical instruments; Astronomy; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Balloons; Broadband; Communications equipment; Detectors; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Lasers; Mathematical and Computational Physics; Niobium nitride; Noise temperature; Nuclear Physics; Observations and Techniques; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Optics; Radio astronomy; Radio telescopes; Receivers; Receivers & amplifiers; Receiving; SIS (superconductors); Superconductivity; Superconductors; Telescope; Telescopes; Theoretical
• ISSN: 0033-8443; 1573-9120
• DOI: 10.1007/s11141-021-10073-z

We give a review of both our own original scientific results of the development of superconducting receivers for sub-terahertz astronomy and the main leading concepts of the global instrumentation. The analysis of current astronomical problems, the results of microwave astroclimate research, and the development of equipment for sub-terahertz radio astronomy studies justify the need and feasibility of a major infrastructure project in Russia to create a sub-terahertz telescope, as well as to enhance the implementation of the ongoing Millimetron and Suffa projects. The following results are discussed: i) superconducting coherent receivers and broadband subterahertz detectors for space, balloon, and ground-based radio telescopes have been developed and tested; ii) ultrasensitive receiving systems based on tunnel structures such as superconductor—insulator—superconductor (SIS) and superconductor—insulator—normal metal—insulator—superconductor (SINIS) have been created, fabricated, and examined; iii) a receiving array based on SINIS detectors and microwave readout system for such structures has been implemented; iv) methods for manufacturing high-quality tunnel structures Nb/AlO x /Nb and Nb/AlN/NbN based on niobium films with a current density of up to 30 kA/cm 2 have been developed. Receivers operated at 200 to 950 GHz and having a noise temperature only a factor of 2 to 5 higher than the quantum limit have been created and tested.