A single-pixel prototype of a W-band detector module with a digital backend was developed to serve as a building block for large focal-plane arrays of monolithic millimeter-wave integrated circuit (MMIC) detectors. The module uses low-noise amplifiers, diode-based mixers, and a WR10 waveguide input with a coaxial local oscillator. State-of-the-art InP HEMT (high electron mobility transistor) MMIC amplifiers at the front end provide approximately 40 dB of gain. The measured noise temperature of the module, at an ambient temperature of 300 K, was found to be as low as 450 K at 95 GHz. The modules will be used to develop multiple instruments for astrophysics radio telescopes, both on the ground and in space. The prototype is being used by Stanford University to characterize noise performance at cryogenic temperatures. The goal is to achieve a 30–50 K noise temperature around 90 GHz when cooled to a 20 K ambient temperature. Further developments include characterization of the IF inphase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals as a function of frequency to check amplitude and phase; replacing the InP low-noise amplifiers with state-ofthe- art 35-nm-gate-length NGC low-noise amplifiers; interfacing the frontend module with a digital back-end spectrometer; and developing a scheme for local oscillator and IF distribution in a future array.
While this MMIC is being developed for use in radio astronomy, it has the potential for use in other industries. Applications include automotive radar (both transmitters and receivers), communication links, radar systems for collision avoidance, production monitors, ground-penetrating sensors, and wireless personal networks.
This work was done by Pekka P. Kangaslahti, Todd C. Gaier, Joelle T. Cooperrider, Lorene A. Samoska, Mary M. Soria, Ian J. O’Dwyer, Sander Weinreb, Brian Custodero, and Heather Owen of Caltech; Keith Grainge of Cambridge University; Judy M. Lau and Sarah Church of Stanford University; and Richard Lai and Xiaobing Mei of Northrop Grumman Corp. for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Semiconductors & ICs category. NPO-46522
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Compact, Miniature MMIC Receiver Modules for an MMIC Array Spectrograph
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Overview
The document outlines the development of a Compact, Miniature MMIC Receiver Module for an MMIC Array Spectrograph, spearheaded by Principal Investigator Lorene Samoska and a team of co-investigators from various institutions, including Caltech and Stanford. The project aims to create a single-pixel ultra-low noise prototype for a W-Band (75-110 GHz) detector module, which will serve as a foundational component for larger focal-plane arrays of MMIC detectors. These detectors are intended for diverse applications in radio astronomy.
In FY08, the team successfully designed, fabricated, and assembled three prototype W-Band receiver modules for the MMIC Array Spectrograph (MAS), which is proposed for use with the Greenbank Telescope. The prototypes were characterized for their receiver noise performance and bandwidth, achieving a remarkable receiver noise temperature as low as 450K using InP HEMT MMIC amplifiers. The team anticipates a nearly tenfold improvement in performance at cryogenic temperatures. Future developments will incorporate advanced 35 nm gate length HEMT amplifiers from Northrop Grumman Corporation, with a single amplifier module already demonstrating a noise temperature of 200K at 100 GHz.
The significance of these prototypes extends to their application in various astrophysics radio telescopes, both terrestrial and space-based. They are expected to enhance multiple instruments, including the Chajnantor Inflation Probe (CHIP), Space Heterodyne Inflation Probe (SHIP), and other future missions requiring heterodyne receivers and receiver arrays. The advancements made with these modules represent a significant leap in technology, offering lower noise temperatures than previously published results.
The document also emphasizes the broader implications of this research, highlighting its potential to contribute to the field of astrophysics and improve the capabilities of radio telescopes. The work is part of NASA's Commercial Technology Program, aimed at disseminating aerospace-related developments with wider technological, scientific, or commercial applications. The document concludes with contact information for further inquiries regarding research and technology in this area, underscoring NASA's commitment to innovation and collaboration in advancing space exploration technologies.
