Development of an SIS(Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) Junction Mixer over 120∼180 GHz Band

120∼180 GHz 대역 SIS (Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) 접합 믹서의 개발

  • Published : 2004.08.01

Abstract

A fixed-tuned SIS(Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) mixer across 120∼180 GHz band has been developed. This mixer employs an SIS chip fabricated by Nobeyama radio observatory which consists of a series array of 6 Nb/Al-Al$_2$O$_3$/Nb junctions in a microstrip line on a fused quartz substrate. The SIS chip is placed at the center of the half-height waveguide mixer mount to have a good incoming signal coupling over the whole frequency band. No mechanical tuner was used in the SIS mixer and the RF signal and local oscillator power are injected to the mixer via a cooled cross-guide coupler. In order to prevent the IF signal loss, the If output impedance of the SIS mixer was matched to the 50 $\Omega$ input impedance of the IF chain. Measured double sideband noise temperatures of a receiver using the SIS mixer are 32∼131 K over 120∼180 GHz band. The developed SIS mixer is now in use for radio astronomical observations on the TRAO 14 m radio telescope.

120∼180 GHz 대역의 고정 튜닝방식을 사용한 SIS(Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) 접합 믹서를 개발 하였다. 이 믹서는 노베야마 전파천문대에서 제작된 6개 직렬 연결 Nb/Al-A1$_2$O$_3$/Nb SIS 접합 소자를 사용하였으며 석영유리 기판에 제작된 이 SIS 칩은 전 주파수 대역에서 입력신호 결합을 향상시키기 위해 half-height 도파관의 중심에 놓여 있다. 본 논문에서 개발된 SIS 믹서는 기계적인 튜닝 장치를 사용하지 않으며 RF 신호와 LO 전력은 냉각된 십자형 방향성 결합기를 통해서 믹서에 공급된다. 또한 IF 신호 손실을 줄이기 위해 SIS 믹서의 IF 출력 임피던스를 IF 증폭단의 50 $\Omega$ 입력 임피던스에 정합 시켰다. SIS 수신기의 측정된 DSB 잡음온도는 120∼180 GHz 대역에서 32∼131 K이며 본 논문에서 개발된 SIS 믹서는 대덕전파천문대의 14 m 전파망원경에 설치되어 전파천문 관측에 사용되고 있다.

Keywords

References

  1. IEEE J. Quantum Electron. v.15 Quantum limited detection in tunnel junction mixers J. R. Tucker https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1979.1069931
  2. Proceedings of the IEEE v.80 no.11 Submillimeter receivers for radio astronomy R. Blundell;C. E. Tong https://doi.org/10.1109/5.175250
  3. private communication T. Noguchi
  4. IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. v.42 Two-junction tuning circuits for submillimeter SIS mixers J. Zmuidzinas;H. G. LeDuc;J. A. Stern;S. R. Cypher https://doi.org/10.1109/22.285084
  5. IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. v.43 A wide band fixed-tuned SIS receiver for 200 GHz operation R. Blundell;C. E. Tong;D. C. Papa;R. L. Leombruno;X. Zhang;S. Paine;J. A. Stern;H. G. LeDuc https://doi.org/10.1109/22.375257
  6. IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Dig. Understanding the waveguide diode mount R. L. Eisenhart
  7. IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. v.23 Low-noise room-temperature and cryogenic mixers for 80-120 GHz A. R. Kerr https://doi.org/10.1109/TMTT.1975.1128683
  8. IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. v.40 A low noise 230 GHz heterodyne receiver employing .25 ${\mu}m^2$ area Nb/$ALO_x$/Nb tunnel junctions J. W. Kooi;M. Chan;T. G. Phillips;B. Bumble;H. G. LeDuc https://doi.org/10.1109/22.137383
  9. Int. J. Infrared and Millimeter Waves v.11 no.1 A scale mixer model for SIS waveguide receivers T. H. Buttgenbach;T. D. Groesbeck;B. Ellison
  10. IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. v.42 A technique for noise measurement of SIS receivers Q. Ke;M. J. Feldman https://doi.org/10.1109/22.285091
  11. IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. v.33 85~115 GHz receivers for radio astronomy D. P. Woody;R. E. Miller;M. J. Wengler https://doi.org/10.1109/TMTT.1985.1132955