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Microwave & Sub-mm Frontend Technology Innovations up to 900GHz

RPG Germany specializes in designing and manufacturing turn-key radiometers, space technology components, and scientific expertise up to THz frequencies. With over 40 years of experience, RPG offers improvements in mixer and multiplier designs, utilizing Schottky diode technology from ACST and RAL for sub-harmonic mixers. The company provides direct detection systems, LNA based on MMIC technology, waveguide filters, ortho-mode transducers, and auto-calibration receivers for frequencies up to 200 GHz. RPG also collaborates with STFC/RAL, UK, and ACST, Germany for advanced diode structures. Explore innovative technologies for microwave and sub-mm applications.

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Microwave & Sub-mm Frontend Technology Innovations up to 900GHz

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  1. Radiometer Physics GmbH (RPG), Germany Improvements in Microwave and Sub-mm Frontend Technology for Use up to 900GHz Harald Czekala RPG Thomas Rose RPG AchimWalber RPGHugh Gibson RPG Oleg Cojocari ACST Byron Alderman STFC RAL

  2. RPG Company Profile Microwave, sub-mm, THz Turn-key radiometers, space technology components, design, scientific expertise ■ 4 decades experience ■ 40 employees ■ Radiometers (space) ■ Frontends/Receivers ■ Lab equipment / VNA ■ Components up to THz ■ Design+Manufacturing

  3. Outline • Direct detection (MMIC) for frequencies up to 120 GHz • Auto-calibration receivers up to 200 GHz (noise-injection / Dicke sw.) • Improvements in mixer and multiplier designs through close cooperation with Schottky diode suppliers • Schottky technology from ACST (Germany) • Schottky technology from RAL (UK) • Subharmonic mixers at 424 GHz and 664 GHz • InGaAS mixers with reduction of LO power by 10 dB

  4. Direct Detection • Direct detection systems up to 110 GHz (since 8 years now…) • LNA mostly based on MMIC supply from IAF Freiburg, Germany • At 118 / 150 / 183 GHz and above, sub-harmonic mixers still have better performance (at least with high-quality sub-harmonic mixers) • Waveguide filters with high stability and narrow bandwidth (0.25 %) 55 dB Pre-Amplifier Splitter and Filter Section Boosters and Detectors Video Amps, MUX, 16 Bit ADC Noise Injection Coupler 51- 59 GHz 7 Channel Filterbank Receiver 170 mm Corrugated Feedhorn

  5. Direct Detection Receivers Compared to heterodyne systems: • Improved noise figure • Decreased long term stability (larger 1/f noise with InP MMICs) • Much better RFI protection • Compact (integrated) design • No planar filters, all waveguide Low loss Ortho-Mode Transducer Tsys < 600 K (NF: 4.9) 90 GHz dual-pol (FM)

  6. Direct Detection: MMIC mounting • Mounting of all amplifier types • Experience in micromachining • Bonding and soldering to space standards

  7. Auto-calibration receivers: Noise injection, Dicke Switching Uambient+noise Uambient DetectorVoltage Usignal Usignal Repetition: 5 Hz Duty cycle: 45 % (due to 10 ms switch time) 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 Time / s Fast calibration with noise diodes and ambient load(gain and Tsys are calibrated) Ambient load / Dicke switch:Isolatorsdriven by switchedmagnetic field Noise diodes:mounted directlyin a waveguidecoupling section Applied to direct detectionas well as heterodynereceivers

  8. Auto-Calibration Receivers (II) • Noise injection calibration up to 200 GHz • 7.000 K signal at 183 GHz with stable noise diode (15 dB ENR) • Magnetically switched isolators:Dicke switching up to 150 GHz with low insertion loss (≤1.0 dB) • Fast switching with low currents (small thermal effects, 100 mA, 0.5 V) ESA-ATPROP 15 / 90 GHz • Allan Variance Stability: 4.000 s • Less dependent on external calibration targets (LN2)!

  9. Auto-calibration receivers (III): 90+150 GHz system Achieved System Noise Temperatures: (incl. noise injection coupler, Dicke switch, isolator) 90 GHz: 750 K 150 GHz: 1200 K Full internal calibrationIsolation > 30 dB Insertion loss @ 90 GHz: 0.7 dB Insertion loss @ 150 GHz: 1.0 dB Allan Variance up to 4000 s

  10. Auto-calibration receivers (IV): 183 GHz system Heterodyne receiver at 183 GHzwith 6 channel Filterbank • Channel centers in IF: 0.6, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, 7.5 GHz • Noise injection for calibration • Tsys=1200 K for complete radiometer • Tsys=380 to 450 K for mixer • Schottky mixer diodeby ACST (Germany) Dome-C, Antarctica 3.300m asl, -25 to -80 °C Close to South-Pole Similar System on HAMP (HALO Microwave Package) for HALO research aircraft

  11. Schottky Mixer and Multiplier Improvements Anode pillar (contact pad) Air-bridge Membrane- substrate Mesa with anode Cathode pillar (contact pad) Back-side ohmic 25μm 50μm Air-bridges Mesas Membrane- substrate Protection pillars (contact pads) Back-side ohmic RAL Diode • Planar technology • Discrete Schottky devices • Semi-integrated and full integrated structures Two collaborations: • STFC/RAL, UK • ACST, Germany Mandatory improvements for 800 to 1000 GHz circuit mountings: • Reduced Cj0 • Reduced Cstr • Smaller size ESTEC Contract 22032/08/NL/JA: Sub-Millimeter Wave Receiver Front-End (at 664 GHz) ESTEC Contract 21628/08/NL/GLC: Integrated Schottky Structures (at 664 GHz) ACST Diode Quasi-vertical (QVD) single Diode (SD) Anti-parallel (APD) diode

  12. Improved Diodes: Vector Network Analyzer Products 50–75 GHz 60 – 90 GHz 75–110 GHz 90 – 140 GHz 110 – 170 GHz 140–220 GHz 220–325 GHz 325–500 GHz (500 – 750 GHz) OEM Network Analyzer Frequency Extenders for Rohde & Schwarz Courtesy of Rohde & Schwarz

  13. Improved Diodes: Tx/Rx Products Transmit / Receive Systems: 90 GHz 183 GHz 220 GHz 324 GHz 502 GHz 640 GHz 870 GHz For compact ranges (antenna measurement facilities, phase + amplitude) Multipixel Array 220 – 325 GHz

  14. Improved Diodes: RPG sub-harmonic mixers

  15. Receiver technology – 183 GHz example 183 GHz feeds and sub-harmonic mixers for ALMA-WVR • Best 183 GHz receivers available • Built in larger numbers • Noise-injection calibration @183(RPG only manufacturer world wide) • All ALMA water vapor radiometers equipped with RPG mixers and feeds

  16. Improved Diodes: RPG sub-harmonic mixers

  17. Sub-Harmonic Mixer: 424 GHz LO Power: 5 mW Tmix=800 to 1200 K Tsys=1800 K (Feed, SHM, IF Amp, Detection) Conversion= –7 dB

  18. Sub-Harmonic Mixer: 664 GHz LO Power: 3 mW Tmix ≈ 1600 K Conversion: –7.5 to –9.5 dB

  19. Further Schottky Diode Optimization: InGaAs Only at ACST:InGaAs Diode • InGaAs built-in voltage (barrier height) significantly lower than GaAs(0.2eV compared to 0.8eV) • Reduced LO power required for SHM at 183 GHz: 0.34 mW (10 dB less!) 183 GHz InGaAs mixer with 0.2 / 0.25 / 0.34 mW LO-power

  20. Examples: Frontends and sub-systems for Space FIRST/HIFI FIRST/HIFI • Space qualified local oscillators (Herschel / ESA): • 8 local oscillator chains from 480 GHz to 1100 GHz • Other space projects: • EOS (NASA), ODIN (SSA), FIRST/HIFI, • MARFEQ, SAPHIR (CNES), MLS (NASA), FY-3 (China), …

  21. Space Products (II) Space qualified front ends (China, FY-3): 183 GHz (4 channels) water vapour sounder

  22. Space Products (III) • Space qualified front ends (China, FY-3): • 90 GHz dual polarized receiver OMT + LNA + (either Direct Detection or Heterodyne) • 150 GHz dual polarized receiver: OMT + SHM

  23. Conclusion / Summary • Direct detection with superior performance (over heterodyne) up to 120 GHz (until better MMIC LNA technology becomes available) • Auto-calibration receivers up to 200 GHz • Cooperation with Schottky diode manufacturers for improved devices • Development of improved mixers and multipliers up to 900 GHz, leading to: • VNA extenders covering all bands to 500 GHz (and soon even further) • Transmit/Receive systems up to 900 GHz • Excellent sub-harmonic mixers • Outstanding performance at 183 GHz, 424 GHz, 664 GHz Further steps: ■ Substrate Transfer ■ High-Power varactors (driver stages for THz) ■ Film Diode Technology ■ Continuing reduction of capacities and size Results partly supported by: ESTEC Contract 22032/08/NL/JA: Sub-Millimeter Wave Receiver Front-End @ 664 GHz ESTEC Contract 21628/08/NL/GLC: Integrated Schottky Structures @ 664 GHz Thank you!

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