Application of superconducting receivers to advanced satellite and space communications systems

The extension of satellite and space communications systems (in particular, inter-satellite and inter-orbit link systems) to the millimeter wave range has been considered. Among the available technologies, superconductivity has been examined for such systems. Superconducting devices for millimeter and sub-millimeter wave sub-systems have been investigated, with emphasis on the development of Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) mixers for low noise receivers. Our attention has been focused on the possible application of SIS-based receivers to the above systems, where the improvement of receiver sensitivity can induce considerable advantages in system design.