A 2.5-THz receiver front end for spaceborne applications

Author

Gaidis, Michael C. ; Pickett, Herbert M. ; Smith, C.D. ; Martin, Suzanne C. ; Smith, R. Peter ; Siegel, Peter H.

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

48

Issue

4

fYear

2000

fDate

4/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

733

Lastpage

739

Abstract

The OH radical is an important player in known ozone depletion cycles; however, due to its location in the atmosphere, it must be studied from either a balloon or spaceborne platform. For long-term mapping over large portions of the earth, a spaceborne platform is the most desirable. NASA´s Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder instrument is slated to house a 2.5-THz Schottky-diode receiver for such measurements. In this paper, we describe the design, fabrication, and testing of the receiver front end. Measured double-sideband (DSB) receiver noise temperatures of better than 9000 K are reproducibly achieved with all devices of our best design. Estimated mixer noise is 3500-K DSB for optimal bias conditions and at room temperature. Selected components will be used in the first terahertz heterodyne receiver to be flown in space

Keywords

Schottky diode mixers; aerospace instrumentation; atmospheric measuring apparatus; heterodyne detection; submillimetre wave receivers; 2.5 THz; Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder instrument; OH radical; Schottky diode mixer; double-sideband receiver noise temperature; ozone depletion; spaceborne platform; terahertz heterodyne receiver front-end; Acoustic noise; Atmosphere; Atmospheric measurements; Earth Observing System; Fabrication; Instruments; Microwave devices; Microwave measurements; Temperature; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.841966

Filename

841966