Abstract: The process to fabricate a polymer film includes baking a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) and a silicon wafer at a predefined temperature. The process also includes attaching a plastic tape frame to the silicon wafer and submerging the COC and the plastic tape frame within water allowing one or more ultra-thin sheets of COC film to be peeled off.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating structured, relatively large area, ultra-thin polymer films are disclosed. For instance, such a process may include spinning a thermoplastic polymer film onto an etched wafer that serves as a mold for the thermoplastic polymer film, baking the thermoplastic polymer film on a hotplate at a curing temperature, delaminating the thermoplastic polymer film in water, and peeling the thermoplastic polymer film from the etched wafer, producing a structured thermoplastic polymer film that has structures corresponding to areas where the wafer has been etched.

Abstract: A phononic filter includes a metamaterial body including a membrane including a crystalline or amorphous dielectric material, an elemental superconductor or an alloyed superconductor; and a plurality of spaced features. The spaced features includes holes, spacings, or apertures in the metamaterial body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a waveguide-to-microstrip line transition package for superconducting film characterization. The package allows propagation and impedance properties thin-film microwave line superconductor to be characterized at millimeter wave frequencies as a function of frequency. The superconducting film's kinetic inductance can be varied by applying direct current along the ground plane via spring loaded probe. When implemented with a non-superconducting metal housing the present invention is highly suitable for measuring resonators with the quality factor, Q, ranges from 100 to 1×104. Through the use of a housing realized from an appropriate superconducting bulk material or coating the upper end of this range of applicability can be readily extended to >1×106.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrically thin molybdenum thin film absorber coating for a detector, that is capable of absorbing a fraction of incident electromagnetic radiation over a 1-15 THz spectral range.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to an infrared detector including a dielectric detector membrane and a NbTiN absorber coating disposed thereon, the latter being a low stress, high resistivity film or coating useful at extremely low temperatures.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to an infrared detector including a dielectric detector membrane and a NbTiN absorber coating disposed thereon, the latter being a low stress, high resistivity film or coating useful at extremely low temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a waveguide-to-microstrip line transition package for superconducting film characterization. The package allows propagation and impedance properties thin-film microwave line superconductor to be characterized at millimeter wave frequencies as a function of frequency. The superconducting film's kinetic inductance can be varied by applying direct current along the ground plane via spring loaded probe. When implemented with a non-superconducting metal housing the present invention is highly suitable for measuring resonators with the quality factor, Q, ranges from 100 to 1×104. Through the use of a housing realized from an appropriate superconducting bulk material or coating the upper end of this range of applicability can be readily extended to >1×106.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrically thin molybdenum thin film absorber coating for a detector, that is capable of absorbing a fraction of incident electromagnetic radiation over a 1-15 THz spectral range.

Abstract: A via-less crossover for use in broadband microwave/mm-wave circuitry, including: a dielectric substrate; a top layer disposed on one side of the substrate and including a microstrip line with an input and an output, two tapered sections placed around the microstrip line along a co-planar waveguide (CPW) central line, one microstrip portion having an input and which connects to one top layer, rectangular stub disposed adjacent to one of the tapered sections, and another microstrip portion having an output and which connects to another top layer, rectangular stub disposed adjacent to the other of the tapered sections; and a ground layer disposed on an opposite side of the substrate and including a bottom layer CPW central line situated in a central cutout and which connects between a bottom layer, rectangular stub on one side and a bottom layer, rectangular stub on the other side situated in ground cutouts, respectively.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system and method for generating noise waves at millimeter wave frequencies. A noise source generator is designed to be connected to a crystalline structure for efficient heat transfer and compatibility with millimeter wave receivers. The use of crystalline structure coupled to the noise source generator allows heat from a biasing device, such as a diode, to be carried away such that the diode is able to generate noise waves while being reversed biased without compromising the device. In another embodiment, the noise source generator includes the use of a backshort transmission line with vias that is connected to the biasing device for heat transfer from the biasing device to the backshort.

Abstract: A via-less crossover for use in broadband microwave/mm-wave circuitry, including: a dielectric substrate; a top layer disposed on one side of the substrate and including a microstrip line with an input and an output, two tapered sections placed around the microstrip line along a co-planar waveguide (CPW) central line, one microstrip portion having an input and which connects to one top layer, rectangular stub disposed adjacent to one of the tapered sections, and another microstrip portion having an output and which connects to another top layer, rectangular stub disposed adjacent to the other of the tapered sections; and a ground layer disposed on an opposite side of the substrate and including a bottom layer CPW central line situated in a central cutout and which connects between a bottom layer, rectangular stub on one side and a bottom layer, rectangular stub on the other side situated in ground cutouts, respectively.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system and method for generating noise waves at millimeter wave frequencies. A noise source generator is designed to be connected to a crystalline structure for efficient heat transfer and compatibility with millimeter wave receivers. The use of crystalline structure coupled to the noise source generator allows heat from a biasing device, such as a diode, to be carried away such that the diode is able to generate noise waves while being reversed biased without compromising the device. In another embodiment, the noise source generator includes the use of a backshort transmission line with vias that is connected to the biasing device for heat transfer from the biasing device to the backshort.

Abstract: A photonic waveguide choke includes a first waveguide flange member having periodic metal tiling pillars, a dissipative dielectric material positioned within an area between the periodic metal tiling pillars and a second waveguide flange member disposed to be coupled with the first waveguide flange member and in spaced-apart relationship separated by a gap. The first waveguide flange member has a substantially smooth surface, and the second waveguide flange member has an array of two-dimensional pillar structures formed therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a symmetric absorber-coupled far-infrared microwave kinetic inductance detector including: a membrane having an absorber disposed thereon in a symmetric cross bar pattern; and a microstrip including a plurality of conductor microstrip lines disposed along all edges of the membrane, and separated from a ground plane by the membrane. The conducting microstrip lines are made from niobium, and the pattern is made from a superconducting material with a transition temperature below niobium, including one of aluminum, titanium nitride, or molybdenum nitride. The pattern is disposed on both a top and a bottom of the membrane, and creates a parallel-plate coupled transmission line on the membrane that acts as a half-wavelength resonator at readout frequencies. The parallel-plate coupled transmission line and the conductor microstrip lines form a stepped impedance resonator. The pattern provides identical power absorption for both horizontal and vertical polarization signals.

Abstract: A device for at least one of receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation includes a feedhorn having a substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface extending from an open end to a feed end, the inner surface being substantially rotationally symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, wherein an orthogonal distance from a point on the longitudinal axis to the substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface increases monotonically as the point on the longitudinal axis is selected at successively greater distances from the feed end of the feedhorn towards the open end of the feedhorn such that a profile of the substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface of the feedhorn is monotonically increasing. The feedhorn has an operating bandwidth and the feedhorn provides a maximum of ?30 dB cross polarization response over at least 15% of the operating bandwidth.

Abstract: A waveguide choke joint includes a first array of pillars positioned on a substrate, each pillar in the first array of pillars having a first size and configured to receive an input plane wave at a first end of the choke joint. The choke joint has a second end configured to transmit the input plane wave away from the choke joint. The choke joint further includes a second array of pillars positioned on the substrate between the first array of pillars and the second end of the choke joint. Each pillar in the second array of pillars has a second size. The choke joint also has a third array of pillars positioned on the substrate between the second array and the second end of the choke joint. Each pillar in the third array of pillars has a third size.

Abstract: A device for at least one of receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation includes a feedhorn having a substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface extending from an open end to a feed end, the inner surface being substantially rotationally symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, wherein an orthogonal distance from a point on the longitudinal axis to the substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface increases monotonically as the point on the longitudinal axis is selected at successively greater distances from the feed end of the feedhorn towards the open end of the feedhorn such that a profile of the substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface of the feedhorn is monotonically increasing. The feedhorn has an operating bandwidth and the feedhorn provides a maximum of ?30 dB cross polarization response over at least 15% of the operating bandwidth.

Abstract: A device for at least one of receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation includes a feedhorn having a substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface extending from an open end to a feed end, the inner surface being substantially rotationally symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, wherein an orthogonal distance from a point on the longitudinal axis to the substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface increases monotonically as the point on the longitudinal axis is selected at successively greater distances from the feed end of the feedhorn towards the open end of the feedhorn such that a profile of the substantially smooth, electrically conducting inner surface of the feedhorn is monotonically increasing. The feedhorn has an operating bandwidth and the feedhorn provides a maximum of ?30 dB cross polarization response over at least 15% of the operating bandwidth.

Abstract: Diffraction suppressed mirrors having an invisible edge are disclosed for incident light at both targeted wavelengths and broadband incident light. The mirrors have a first having at least one discontiguous portion having a plurality of nanostructured apertures. The discontiguous mirror portion impedance matches a relatively high impedance portion of the mirror to a relatively low impedance portion of the mirror, thereby reducing the diffraction edge effect otherwise present in a conventional mirror.