We propose a framework to interpret heterodyne mixing in superconducting hot-electron bolometers. The physical conversion process of the mixer is the result of an electronic hotspot, of which the length, and consequently the resistance, oscillates at the intermediate frequency. On the basis of this concept, we calculate the (un)pumped current–voltage relation, the dc voltage responsivity, and the mixer conversion efficiency.
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Floet et al. (1999) studied this question.