A 380 GHz SIS Receiver using Nb/A10x/Nb Junctions for a RadioAstronomical Balloon-borne Experiment : PRONAOS

The 3rd International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology

P. Febvre*+ ; P. Feautrier** ; C.Robert*J.C. Pernot** ; A. Germont* ; M. Hanus** ; R. Maoli* ; M. Gheudin* ; G. Beaudin* ; P. Encrenaz** *Observatoire de Paris-Meudon ; DEMIRM - URA 336 5 ; Place Jules Janssen 92195 Aleutian - France

Others  :  http://www.nrao.edu/meetings/isstt/papers/1992/1992189209.pdf
PID  :  28604

来源: CEUR

【 摘 要 】

The superheterodyne detection technique used for the spectrometer instrument of the PRONAOS project will provide a very high spectral resolution (Δv/v =10⁻⁶ ). The most critical components are those located at the front-end of the receiver : their contribution dominates the total noise of the receiver. Therefore it is important to perform accurate studies for specific components, such as mixers and multipliers working in the submillimeter wave range. Difficulties in generating enough local oscillator (L.0.) power at high frequencies make SIS mixers very desirable for operation above 300 GHz. The low L.O. power requirements and the low noise temperature of these mixers are the primary reason for buiding an SIS receiver. This paper will report the successful fabrication of small (≦1μm ²) Nb/A1-0x/Nb junctions and arrays with excellent I-V characteristics and very good reliability, resulting in a low noise receiver performance measured in the 368/380 GHz frequency range.