An Integrated Sideband-Separating SIS Mixer Based on Waveguide Split Block for 100 GHz Band with 4.0–8.0 GHz IF

We have developed an integrated sideband-separating SIS mixer for the 100 GHz band based on the waveguide split block. The measured receiver noise temperatures with 4.0–8.0 GHz IF are less than 60 K in the LO frequency range of 90–110 GHz, and a minimum value of around 45 K is achieved at 100 GHz. The image rejection ratios are more than 10 dB in the frequency range of 90–110 GHz. We have installed the sideband-separating SIS mixer into an atmospheric ozone-measuring system at Osaka Prefecture University and successfully observed an ozone spectrum at 110 GHz in SSB mode. This experimental result indicates that the sideband-separating SIS mixer is very useful for astronomical observation as well as atmospheric observation.     

A 350GHz Radial-Probe SIS Mixer for Astronomical Imaging Arrays

We have developed a 330-370GHz SIS mixer for small-format, heterodyne, astronomical imaging arrays. Fixed-tuned broadband operation is achieved by means of a superconducting radial waveguide probe. A horn-reflector antenna provides high-efficiency optical coupling. Using a variable-temperature cryogenic noise source, we measured a DSB system noise temperature of 32±1K. The mixer contributes 3±3K, supporting the theoretically-predicted result that the noise temperature of a DSB mixer can be less than hω/2κ (8.6K)     

Realization and Preliminary Measurements on a 94 GHz SIS Mixer

In this paper we present the realization and a preliminary characterization of a SIS based receiver. It has been developed for the MASTER experiment that consists in a three-band SIS receiver (94, 225 and 345 GHz) for astrophysical observations through the atmospheric windows available at high altitude dry sites. The measurements performed establish an upper limit to the overall receiver noise temperature. A comparison has been tried with the MASTER requirements and with state of the art results. A noise figure of 110 K has been obtained at 94 GHz, about 22 times the quantum limit.     

A Low-Noise Terahertz SIS Mixer Incorporating a Waveguide Directional Coupler for LO Injection

We have developed a low-noise heterodyne waveguide Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) mixer with a novel local oscillator (LO) injection scheme for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) band 10, over the frequency range 0.78–0.95 THz. The SIS mixer uses radio frequency (RF) and LO receiving horns separately and a waveguide 10 dB LO coupler integrated in the mixer block. The insertion loss of the waveguide and coupling factor of the coupler were evaluated at terahertz frequencies at both room and cryogenic temperatures. The double-sideband (DSB) receiver noise temperatures were below 330 K (7.5hf/k _B) at LO frequencies in the range 0.801–0.945 THz. The minimum temperature was 221 K at 0.873 THz over the intermediate frequency range of 4–12 GHz at an operating temperature of 4 K. This waveguide heterodyne SIS mixer exhibits great potential for practical applications, such as high-frequency receivers of the ALMA.     

A W-Band Low-Loss Dual-Polarization Quasi-TEM Waveguide

As an enabling feed/interconnect element for various millimeter wave components, dual polarization quasi-transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waveguides at W-band (75-110 GHz) are investigated with two-dimensional electromagnetic crystal (EMXT) surfaces as the four boundary walls instead of the regular metallic walls. A 2.54 mm x 2.54 mm quasi-TEM square waveguide prototype with a length of 2 mm is fabricated and demonstrated. Both eigenmode and full-wave EM simulations of the prototype verify the quasi-TEM propagation at the designed frequency of 95 GHz with a bandwidth of more than 10% and the low insertion loss for the entire W-band. The prototype waveguide is measured in a WR-10 fixture and the results agree with simulations well. To better understand the loss mechanisms, various design and packaging parameters are studied. Undesirable resonant surface modes have been identified as a critical cause of loss at specific frequencies. This type of waveguides may also be useful for spatial power combining, low loss interconnects, and packaging for millimeter wave systems.     

A Study of W-Band Subharmonically Pumped Mixer

A W-band subharmonically pumped mixer with packaged Schottky diodes has been developed. The design and performance of this mixer are described in detail. A new method for measuring the embedding network parameters of the subharmonically pumped mixer has been developed and the measurement bas been carried out directly at 2f/sub LO/ and 2f/sub LO/+-f/sub if/. A special program for the analysis of the subharmonically pumped mixer has been developed, and computed results are given in comparison with measured results.     

A Broad-Band Low-Noise Schottky Diode Full-Height Waveguide Mixer from 80 to 115 GHz

The RF matching problem in the input circuit of the mm-wavelength whisker contacted Schottky diode mixer is studied. The experimental results, obtained on the 3mm wavelength mixer mounts in the broad band of frequencies from 80 to 115 GHz are presented. It is shown that advantage in the receiver noise temperature may be realized by the use of a full-height instead of 1/4-reduced-height waveguide because of reduction loss in the mixer input circuit even beginning from the 3mm-wavelength. With a full-height waveguide mixer the double sideband (DSB) receiver noise temperature is 300 divided by 350K over the 85 to 110 GHz band. Input bandwidth of the fullheight waveguide mixer (cap delta f _S/f _SO greater than 30%) is equal to 1/2-and close to 1/4-reduced-height waveguide mixers.     

A Broad-Band Second-Harmonic Mixer Covering 76-106 GHz

A broad-band second-harmonic millimeter-wave mixer has been constructed. The circuit consists of a single unencapsulated Schottky-barrier diode and embedding network which includes a wave absorber in the IF output terminal. The conversion loss of the mixer is 14.6/spl plusmn/0.9 dB over a frequency range of 76-106 GHz. The mixer is pumped by a Iocal oscillator that is tuned over the range of 37.15-52.15 GHz. The IF is kept constant at 1.7 GHz. The new mixer looks attractive for use in broad-band millimeter-wave measuring equipment, such as spectrum analyzers.     

W-Band (75-110 GHz) Microstrip Components

Various microstrip components, including mixers, IMPATT oscillators, Gunn oscillators, doublers, circulators, and IMPATT amplifiers, have been developed at W-band with state-of-the-art performance. The use of microstrip drastically reduces fabrication costs due to the less stringent machining tolerance. The design and performance of these components will be reported.     

A 0.5–7.5 GHz Ultra Low-Voltage Low-Power Mixer Using Bulk-Injection Method by 0.18- μm CMOS Technology

A fully differential low-voltage low-power downconversion mixer using a TSMC 0.18-mum CMOS logic process is presented in this letter. The mixer was designed with a four-terminal MOS transistor, the radio-frequency (RF) and local-oscillator signals apply to the gate and bulk of the device, respectively while the intermediate frequency (IF) signals output was from the drain. The mixer features a maximum conversion gain of 5.7dB at 2.4 GHz, an ultra low dc power consumption of 0.48 mW, a noise figure of 15 dB, and an input IP of 5.7 dBm. Moreover, the chip area of the mixer core is only 0.18 times 0.2 mm². The measured 3-dB RF frequency bandwidth is from 0.5 to 7.5 GHz with an IF of 100 MHz, and it is greatly suitable for low-power in wireless communication.     

A Fixed Tuned Low Noise 600-700 GHz SIS Receiver

We have designed and fabricated a fixed tuned low noise 600-700 GHz SIS mixer. Twin junctions connected in parallel was employed in the mixer design. A short microstrip tuning structure was used to minimize the RF signal loss at frequency above the energy gap. A receiver noise temperature below 200 K (without any loss correction) in the frequency range of 630 to 660 GHz was recorded. The lowest noise temperature of the receiver was 181 K (without any loss correction) at 656 GHz.     

12GHz GaAs单片混频器

分析研究了一种新型１２ＧＨｚＧａＡｓＭＥＳＦＥＴ单片混频器，这种混频器采用级联ＦＥＴ作为混频元件。射频（ＲＦ）和本振（ＬＯ）信号分别通过各自的匹配网络进入混频电路，在中频输出端用中频缓冲放大器代替通常的中频匹配电路。电路在厚０．２ｍｍ，面积１．５ｍｍ×１．２ｍｍ的ＧａＡｓ基片上实现。设计的ＭＭＩＣ混频器在本振１１ＧＨｚ，射频１１．７～１２．２ＧＨＺ频率范围内的最大变频增益１．８ｄＢ。这一结果使进一步研究单片微波接收机成为可能。     

一种适用于低中频和零中频GPS接收机的CMOS混频器

基于0.18 μm RF CMOS工艺,设计了一种可用于低中频和零中频GPS接收机的CMOS正交混频器.通过固定电流注入技术,减小了混频器的噪声系数.将混频器的开关管偏置在线性区,可进一步降低混频器的1/f噪声,适用于零中频接收机.在1.8 V的工作电压下,由Cadence Spectre RF仿真可得,混频器的转换增益为7.1 dB,而4 MHz和20 kHz中频输出的SSB噪声系数分别为8.7 dB和12.3 dB.     

A low-noise 492 GHz SIS waveguide receiver

In this paper we discuss the design and performance of an SIS waveguide receiver which provides low noise performance from 375 to 510 GHz. At its design frequency of 492 GHz the receiver has a double sideband noise temperature of ～172 K. By using embedded magnetic field concentrators, we are able to effectively suppress Josephson pair tunneling. Techniques for improving receiver performance are discussed.     

A 345GHz SIS receiver for radio astronomy

A 345GHz superconductor insulator superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction receiver utilizing a full height rectangular waveguide mixer with two tuning elements, i.e. an E-plane and backshort tuner, has been constructed and installed on the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory 10m antenna on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The receiver exhibits a best double side-band noise temperature response of 150K±20K (averaged over a 500 MHz IF bandwidth centered at 1.5GHz) at a design center frequency of 345GHz and at an ambient temperature of approximately 3.8K. Additional measurements show that the receiver has an excellent response at selected points within an RF input range of 280 to 363GHz.     

A lownoise 665 GHz SIS quasi-particle waveguide receiver

We report recent results on a 565–690 GHz SIS heterodyne receiver employing a 0.36µm² Nb/AlO _x /Nb SIS tunnel junction with high quality circular non-contacting backshort and E-plane tuners in a full height waveguide mount. No resonant tuning structures have been incorporated in the junction design at this time, even though such structures are expected to help the performance of the receiver. The receiver operates to at least the gap frequency of Niobium, ≈ 680 GHz. Typical receiver noise temperatures from 565–690 GHz range from 160K to 230K with a best value of 185K DSB at 648 GHz. With the mixer cooled from 4.3K to 2K the measured receiver noise temperatures decreased by approximately 15%, giving roughly 180K DSB from 660 to 680 GHz. The receiver has a full 1 GHz IF passband and has been successfully installed at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory in Hawaii.     

A dual-polarized quasi-optical SIS mixer at 550 GHz

In this paper, we describe the design, fabrication, and the performance of a low-noise dual-polarized quasi-optical superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer at 550 GHz. The mixer utilizes a novel cross-slot antenna on a hyperhemispherical substrate lens, two junction tuning circuits, niobium trilayer junctions, and an IF circuit containing a lumped element 180° hybrid. The antenna consists of an orthogonal pair of twin-slot antennas, and has four feed points, two for each polarization. Each feed point is coupled to a two-junction SIS mixer. The 180° IF hybrid is implemented using a lumped element/microstrip circuit located inside the mixer block. Fourier transform spectrometer measurements of the mixer frequency response show good agreement with computer simulations. The measured co-polarized and cross-polarized patterns for both polarizations also agree with the theoretical predictions. The noise performance of the dual-polarized mixer is excellent giving uncorrected receiver noise temperature of better than 115 K (double sideband) at 528 GHz for both the polarizations     

A 110 GHz SIS receiver for radio astronomy

A 110 GHz superconductor insulator superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction receiver has been developed and used in regular astronomical observations on the 4m radio telescope at the Department of Astrophysics, Nagoya University. The SIS junction consists of a sandwich structure of Nb/AlOx/Nb, and is cooled to 4.2K with a closed cycle He-gas refrigerator. The receiver exhibits a best double side band noise temperature of 23±2 K at 110GHz. Additional measurements at 98–115 GHz indicate that the receiver has a good response over this input frequency range.     

A New Mixer Design for 140-220 GHz (Short Papers)

A new Schottky-diode mixer is described which has low noise and conversion loss in the 140-220-GHz band. At 170 GHz mixer noise temperatures of 1100-1300 K [Single sideboard (SSB)] have been measured, with 6.2-7.2-dB SSB conversion loss. The design should be usable up to -300 GHz with appropriate scaling. The mixer has been successfully used in airborne radiometers on the NASA Convair 990 and C-141 aircraft.