Heterodyne detector using a SNS junction

We propose new designs for millimeter-wave heterodyne detectors using the negative differential resistance of SNS junctions. The SNS junction may be used as the local oscillator in conventional receivers or a single SNS junction may be simultaneously used as the local oscillator and as the mixer itself, taking advantage of the nonlinearity of the current-voltage characteristic (CVC) of the junction. We calculate CVC curves for high-Tc SNS junctions (YBCO-SNS junctions), which are expressed as a function of T/Tc and other parameters.