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At least 343 records · Page 19

Submillimeter sources for radiometry using high power Indium Phosphide Gunn diode oscillators

A study aimed at developing high frequency millimeter wave and submillimeter wave local oscillator sources in the 60-600 GHz range was conducted. Sources involved both fundamental and harmonic-extraction type Indium Phosphide Gunn diode oscillators as well as varactor multipliers. In particular, a high power balanced-doubler using varactor diodes was developed for 166 GHz. It is capable of handling 100 mW input power, and typically produced 25 mW output power. A high frequency tripler operating at 500 GHz output frequency was also developed and cascaded with the balanced-doubler. A dual-diode InP Gunn diode combiner was used to pump this cascaded multiplier to produce on the order of 0.5 mW at 500 GHz. In addition, considerable development and characterization work on InP Gunn diode oscillators was carried out. Design data and operating characteristics were documented for a very wide range of oscillators. The reliability of InP devices was examined, and packaging techniques to enhance the performance were analyzed. A theoretical study of a new class of high power multipliers was conducted for future applications. The sources developed here find many commercial applications for radio astronomy and remote sensing.

Deo, Naresh C.↗

Study of optical output couplers for submillimeter wavelength backward-wave oscillators (BWO's)

The machining of slow wave structures for high frequency backward-wave oscillators (BWO) is extremely difficult beyond 1 THz. Recently a microfabrication technique using photolithography and ion-beam assisted etching has been used to construct a prototype BWO operating at 200 to 265 GHz. The output coupler for such tubes remains a problem. Waveguides do not exist or are very lossy at the frequencies of interest (300 to 2000 GHz). This paper discusses several scaled experiments of optical output couplers for submillimeter BWOs. Various designs of planar antennas (Vivaldi horns) and lens-feed systems (Hyperhemispherical lens) were constructed and tested between 20 and 100 GHz using a spectrum analyzer. The lens system was also tested at 337 GHz using a CO2 pumped FIR laser.

Cook, Jerry D.↗

Submillimeter local oscillators for heterodyne spectroscopy

The major technological innovations in continuous wave (CW) submillimeter sources which are specifically suitable for application as local oscillators in heterodyne systems are reviewed. A description of the various sources is given which underscores the general principles and operating features for each type of device. Particular emphasis is placed on CW optically pumped lasers, which have had a dramatic impact as widely available sources of narrow linewidth coherent radiation. The state-of-the-art is summarized for these lasers and performance data are presented for several local oscillator packages. Optically pumped lasers are then compared and contrasted with other competing sources such as backward wave oscillators, IMPATT diodes, and Josephson junctions. By comparing their advantages and limitations for use as local oscillators, the potential applications of these different sources are projected. The prospects for increased tunability, reliability, and scalability are briefly considered, and several novel techniques for generating partially tunable radiation using Schottky diode mixers or CW Raman lasers are highlighted.

Danielewicz, E. J., Jr.↗

Photon noise correlations in millimeter-wave telescopes

Many modern millimeter and submillimeter (“mm-wave”) telescopes for astronomy are deploying more detectors by increasing the detector pixel density and, with the rise of lithographed detector architectures and high-throughput readout techniques, it is becoming increasingly practical to overfill the focal plane. However, when the pixel pitch p pix is small compared to the product of the wavelength λ and the focal ratio F , or p pix ≲1.2 F λ , the Bose term of the photon noise correlates between neighboring detector pixels due to the Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) effect. When this HBT effect is non-negligible, the array-averaged sensitivity scales with the detector count N det less favorably than the uncorrelated limit of N det −1/2 . In this paper, we present a general prescription to calculate this HBT correlation based on a quantum optics formalism and extend it to polarization-sensitive detectors. We then estimate the impact of HBT correlations on the sensitivity of a model mm-wave telescope and discuss the implications for a focal plane design.

Hill, Charles A. (ORCID:0000000226416878)↗

Terahertz Schottky Multiplier Sources

This viewgraph presentation reviews the multiplier source technologies and the status/Performance of THz multiplier sources. An example of a THz application is imaging radar. The presentation reviews areas of requirements for THz sources: (1) Figures of merit, (i.e., Frequency Terahertz for high resolution Bandwidth of at least 15 GHz for high range resolution Efficiency (i.e., minimize power supply requirements) (2) Output power: (i.e., Milliwatts below 800 GHz, 10s of microwatts above 1 THz, 1-2 microwatts near 2 THz (3) Mechanical--stability, compact, low mass (4) Environmental -- radiation, vibration, thermal. Several sources for 0.3 - 2 THz are reviewed: FIR lasers, quantum cascade lasers (QCL), backward-wave oscillator (BWO), and Multiplier sources. The current state of the art (SoA) is shown as Substrateless Technology. It also shows where the SoA is for devices beyond 1 THz. The presentation concludes by reviewing the options for future development, and 2 technology roadmaps

submillimeter wave↗

Optically pumped submillimeter laser heterodyne receivers - Astrophysical observations and recent technical developments

NASA's prospective sub-mm-wave astrophysical missions encompass the Small Explorer Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite, scheduled for launch in 1995, the Submillimeter Intermediate Mission, and the Large Deployable Reflector; until these are operational, sub-mm observations will be conducted at mountain sites and aboard aircraft platforms. Attention is presently given to the technical challenges faced by terahertz-range receiver developers, and it is noted that optically pumped sub-mm lasers furnish the only practical local oscillation source for heterodyne receivers in the 600-3000 GHz range. An account is given of ground-based and airborne astrophysical applications of heterodyne receivers.

Chin, Gordon↗