A 150 GHz Receiver Module for Astronomical Observations
Abstract
A compact, wide-band, heterodyne amplifier module has been designed to operate in the 150 GHz atmospheric window using High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) amplifier technology. This frequency range is important for many astrophysical science applications, including spectral line studies, separating the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation from foregrounds, and detecting the hot gas around galaxy clusters using the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. HEMT-based receiver arrays with excellent noise and scalability are already being manufactured around 100 GHz, but recent advances have made it possible to extend this technology to even higher frequencies. The prototype 150 GHz module housing utilizes Monolithic Millimeter-Wave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) InP Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs). These amplifiers, along with a second harmonic mixer, bias circuitry, and connectors, are contained in a single, split-block housing approximately one inch cubed in size. Preliminary cryogenic tests have measured a system noise temperature of 150 K over a bandwidth of 25 GHz with a minimum noise temperature of less than 100 K at 168 GHz. The minimum noise temperature is less than 100 K at 168 GHz. Module improvements for the second phase are expected to reduce the noise temperature to the minimum allowed by the device limit. Development of a 4-element array to demonstrate the scalability of these receivers is currently underway, and will serve as a prototype for much larger, 100-element arrays for astrophysical applications. In the future, a space mission incorporating an array of these modules could be used to detect the curl modes (B-modes) of the CMB polarization, which is important for the search for the signature of inflation.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #217
- Pub Date:
- January 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011AAS...21743310V