Leaky lens antennas and Kinetic Inductance Detectors - The solution for THz integration

The fabrication and measurements of the leaky lens antenna integrated with a cryogenically cooled Kinetic Inductance Detector is discussed. The obtained system represents the key component of ultra sensitive THz receivers operating over a bandwidth ranging between 0.15 GHz and 1.5 THz. The system has been manufactured and characterised in terms of power efficiency and radiation pattern properties. The measured performance is in excellent agreement with the one predicted by means of numerical simulations. The results demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing leaky lens antennas at THz frequencies, together with the repeatability of the advocated process.