R -- Development of NbN Hot Electron Mixer Devices

The Terahertz Technology Project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Electromagnetics Division submitted a proposal entitled "Development of Low-Noise NbN Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) THz Receiver Technology for Temperatures above 10 K" in response to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) 00-0SS-01 of the Space Astrophysic Research and Analysis program. The proposal outlines a plan of research on the performance of extremely thin films of Niobium Nitride (NbN) hot electron bolometer (HEB), as heterodyne detector elements in ultra-low noise, terahertz-frequency spectrometers. Such spectrometers are used in many NASA missions t obtain data on the chemical composition and physical properties of the Earth's atmosphere, the atmospheres of other planets, and interstellar nebulae. The proposal was a joint effort between NIST, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA funded the proposal through a transfer of funds to NIST after a competitive peer review. During the 12 months of the development, the principal investigator, Dr. Gerecht, shall continue to develop the apparatus for measurements of noise temperature for NbN HEB mixers for focal plane arrays.***This publication is a notice of the dispersement of funds from NIST to the University of Massachusetts via a purchase order