Superconducting tunnel junction receiver for millimeter-wave astronomy. [115. 3-GHz rotational transition]

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5103425

Pan, S K

The development and construction of an ultra-low-noise heterodyne receiver for millimeter wavelength ratio astronomy, and its use for spectral line observations of the 115.3 GHz rotational transition of interstellar CO, are described. The receiver uses a Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) quasiparticle tunnel junction mixer to convert the millimeter wavelength signal to a microwave intermediate frequency. Experiments aimed at quantitative verification of J.R. Tucker's newly published quantum mixer theory are described to see whether it could be used as the basis for the design of a practical receiver. The experimental results were in excellent agreement with the theory, assuming the 3-frequency approximation. Infinite available gain and negative output resistance were observed for the first time - nonclassical effects are not seen in conventional diode mixers. Using Tucker's theory, an SIS mixer was then designed and used as the front-end of the spectral line receiver. At 115.3 GHz, the single side band receiver noise temperature is 83 K, the lowest ever reported in this frequency range.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., New York (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5103425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY LEVELS
EQUIPMENT
EXCITED STATES
HETERODYNE RECEIVERS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
JUNCTIONS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MICROWAVE SPECTRA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
RADIO EQUIPMENT
ROTATIONAL STATES
SPACE
SPECTRA
SUPERCONDUCTING JUNCTIONS