@inproceedings{2b48d6d0803b46e0ac203eb416fe104b,
title = "A 1.5 THz hot electron bolometer receiver for ground-based Terahertz astronomy in Northern Chile",
abstract = "A 1.5 THz superconducting receiver has been in operation at the Receiver Lab Telescope of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Northern Chile since December 2004. This receiver incorporates a Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB) mixer chip made from a thin film of Niobium Titanium Nitride (NbTiN), which is mounted in a precision-machined waveguide mixer block attached to a corrugated waveguide horn assembly. With a noise temperature of around 1500 K, this receiver is sensitive enough for use in the pioneering field of ground-based terahertz spectral-line astronomy. A number of innovative techniques have been employed in the construction and deployment of this receiver. These include near-field vector beam mapping to enable accurate coupling to the telescope optics, the use of tunerless planar-diode based local oscillator unit capable of generating a few μW at 1.5 THz, and special calibration techniques required for terahertz astronomy. In this paper, we will report on the design, set-up and operation of this state-of-the-art instrument.",
keywords = "Hot Electron Bolometer mixer, Terahertz astronomy, Terahertz receiver",
author = "Tong, {C. Y.Edward} and Jonathan Kawamura and Daniel Marrone and Denis Loudkov and Scott Paine and Raymond Blundell and Claudio Barrientos and Daniel L{\"u}hr",
year = "2006",
doi = "10.1117/12.686058",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "0819464716",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
booktitle = "Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems",
note = "Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems ; Conference date: 02-10-2006 Through 04-10-2006",
}