Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N

Metriwave final report

W. E. Williams

Published Oct 1, 1991• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

The superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer is a device which is being used in the construction of very sensitive receivers in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength regions. With its potential for conversion gain and quantum-limited performance, it is becoming a device of prime importance in radio astronomy as well as earth and planetary atmospheric research. Many of the parameters of the SIS mixer cannot be readily measured in the laboratory, however, since most commercially available test instruments use test signal powers large enough to saturate or destroy SIS junctions. Detailed here is the construction of a microwave network analyzer with extremely low test signal powers. The results of a development performed by Dynamics Technology, Inc., under a Phase 2 SBIR contract from NASA (NAS7-1025) are documented. The work resulted in a network analyzer to be delivered to workers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which should be capable of SIS mixer characterization in support of their ongoing work in this area.

Related papers

Optimization of SIS mixer elements

Robert J. Mattauch

Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) quantum mixers provide an approach to millimeter wave mixing - potentially offering conversion gain, a low local oscillator power demand, and potential mixer noise temperatures near the quantum limit. The development of a reliable fabrication technology for producing such high quality SIS devices for mixer applications in radio astronomy is the focus of the work.

•Dec 1, 1985•0 citations

A Very Wide Bandwidth SIS Heterodyne Receiver Design for Millimeter and Submillimeter Astronomy

F. Rice

This text describes in some detail the design and operational history of an instrument used as the front-end receiver for a fast, broadband, high-resolution spectrometer for the 1.3 millimeter wavelength atmospheric window. Using only a single superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction as its heterodyne detector, the receiver’s novel design achieved then unprecedented RF and IF bandwidths and incorporated several innovations which have since been widely adopted within the millimeter and submillimeter wave research communities. Although intended as a relatively simple technology demonstrator and starting point for more refined and sophisticated designs, the receiver turned out to be a useful astronomical instrument in its own right, and it was deployed as a de facto facility instrument for several years at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. Also described are the author’s contributions to another important aid to research and design efforts: the SuperMix software library for the analysis and optimization of high-frequency circuitry, especially developed to aid in the design of systems involving SIS and other superconducting elements. Finally, the text may serve as a useful introduction to the theory behind and methodology for modeling and design of SIS heterodyne mixers.

•Sep 18, 2020•0 citations

Theoretical SIS mixer research

M. J. Feldman

Theoretical research has been conducted to elucidate the basic physics behind the properties of superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction receiving devices. The properties of SIS mixers using nonideal junctions and finite LO power, were determined by analytic expansion of the equations of the quantum theory of mixing, and also by computer simulations of SIS receivers over the entire range of experimental parameters. The result is a new coherent and intuitive picture of SIS mixer behavior. Many of the outstanding mysteries and questions about SIS receivers are resolved, and this contributes greatly to the design and interpretation of SIS mixer experiments. Other calculations show how to achieve sub-quantum noise temperatures in the phase sensitive SIS mixer, an important step towards realization of ultra-low- noise detectors. A simplified model casts doubt on the superlative experimental results reported for the rf-series dc-parallel biased array SIS mixer. Superconductivity; SIS mixer; Submillimeter-wave detection.

Final Technical Report•Jun 1, 1993•0 citations

Temperature-dependent performances of Nb SIS mixers at millimeter and submillimeter wavelength Microwave and Millimeter Wave Technology

Jie Liu, Wenlei Shan, Sheng-Cai Shi

The dependence of the performance of Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) mixers on the ambient temperature is investigated both theoretically and experimentally at millimeter and submillimeter wavelength. We found that the mixers' conversion gain plays a dominant role in the temperature-induced variation of the overall receiver sensitivity. To achieve a straightforward image of how the ambient temperature influences the conversion gain, we introduce a pure shape factor that allows for determining the mixers' conversion gain from the nonlinearity of their IV curves. We measured the performance of an SIS mixer at 100GHz band with the ambient temperature ranging from 3.8K to 8.5K to verify the validity of the quantum mixing theory. The experimental results are found in good agreement with the simulation results. This agreement indicates the validity of quantum mixing theory at a relatively high temperature up to the superconducting critical temperature. The measurement results show that at 100GHz band, the Nb SIS mixer can maintain a reasonable performance at the ambient temperature as high as 80% of the superconducting critical temperature. In addition to the gain and noise, the receiver stability in terms of Allen variance was also measured at various ambient temperatures without any apparent difference found.

•Jan 1, 2012•0 citations

MM - Wave Components - SIS (Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) Mixers

Stephen R. Whiteley

Abstract : Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction mixers are known to provide ultra-high sensitivity receiver applications above 30 GHz. In this two year (Phase II) program, HYPRES, in collaboration with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, have developed novel fully integrated SIS mixer circuits, and demonstrated a unique high efficiency cooling system. The integrated SIS mixer chip contains, aside from the actual mixer elements, passive tuning components, an IF filter, a coplanar transmission line, and a waveguide coupler, necessary components heretofore realized off-chip. Fabrication of the integrated mixer required development of a nine level process and optimization of the process dependent electrical parameters of the SIS devices. The device performs efficiently in the range of 75-115 GHz. A novel dewar-based cooler, which makes use of the extremely low thermal conductivity of the fused silica chip substrate to achieve an incremental thermal load of 25 mW, was fabricated and demonstrated. Such a cryostat allows relatively long term unattended operation of SIS, or other, cryogenic devices.

Final Report•Apr 26, 1989•0 citations

Development of Superconducting Devices Supporting Radio Astronomy

Yoshinori Uzawa, M. Kroug, Takafumi Kojima +7 more

This paper describes the development of superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) from the device point of view. During the construction phase of ALMA, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) successfully fabricated SIS mixers to meet the stringent ALMA noise temperature requirements of less than 230 K (5 times the quantum noise) for Band 10 (787-950 GHz) in collaboration with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. Band 10 covers the highest frequency band of ALMA and is recognized as the most difficult band in terms of superconducting technology. After the construction, the NAOJ began development studies for ALMA enhancement such as wideband and multibeam SIS mixers according to top-level science requirements, which are also presented.

IEICE Transactions on Electronics•Mar 23, 2021•5 citations
The superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer is a device which is being used in the construction of very sensitive receivers in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength regions. With its potential for conversion gain and quantum-limited performance, it is becoming a device of prime importance in radio astronomy as well as earth and planetary atmospheric research. Many of the parameters of the SIS mixer cannot be readily measured in the laboratory, however, since most commercially available test instruments use test signal powers large enough to saturate or destroy SIS junctions. Detailed here is the construction of a microwave network analyzer with extremely low test signal powers. The results of a development performed by Dynamics Technology, Inc., under a Phase 2 SBIR contract from NASA (NAS7-1025) are documented. The work resulted in a network analyzer to be delivered to workers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which should be capable of SIS mixer characterization in support of their ongoing work in this area.
This text describes in some detail the design and operational history of an instrument used as the front-end receiver for a fast, broadband, high-resolution spectrometer for the 1.3 millimeter wavelength atmospheric window. Using only a single superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction as its heterodyne detector, the receiver’s novel design achieved then unprecedented RF and IF bandwidths and incorporated several innovations which have since been widely adopted within the millimeter and submillimeter wave research communities. Although intended as a relatively simple technology demonstrator and starting point for more refined and sophisticated designs, the receiver turned out to be a useful astronomical instrument in its own right, and it was deployed as a de facto facility instrument for several years at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. Also described are the author’s contributions to another important aid to research and design efforts: the SuperMix software library for the analysis and optimization of high-frequency circuitry, especially developed to aid in the design of systems involving SIS and other superconducting elements. Finally, the text may serve as a useful introduction to the theory behind and methodology for modeling and design of SIS heterodyne mixers.
Theoretical research has been conducted to elucidate the basic physics behind the properties of superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction receiving devices. The properties of SIS mixers using nonideal junctions and finite LO power, were determined by analytic expansion of the equations of the quantum theory of mixing, and also by computer simulations of SIS receivers over the entire range of experimental parameters. The result is a new coherent and intuitive picture of SIS mixer behavior. Many of the outstanding mysteries and questions about SIS receivers are resolved, and this contributes greatly to the design and interpretation of SIS mixer experiments. Other calculations show how to achieve sub-quantum noise temperatures in the phase sensitive SIS mixer, an important step towards realization of ultra-low- noise detectors. A simplified model casts doubt on the superlative experimental results reported for the rf-series dc-parallel biased array SIS mixer. Superconductivity; SIS mixer; Submillimeter-wave detection.
The dependence of the performance of Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) mixers on the ambient temperature is investigated both theoretically and experimentally at millimeter and submillimeter wavelength. We found that the mixers' conversion gain plays a dominant role in the temperature-induced variation of the overall receiver sensitivity. To achieve a straightforward image of how the ambient temperature influences the conversion gain, we introduce a pure shape factor that allows for determining the mixers' conversion gain from the nonlinearity of their IV curves. We measured the performance of an SIS mixer at 100GHz band with the ambient temperature ranging from 3.8K to 8.5K to verify the validity of the quantum mixing theory. The experimental results are found in good agreement with the simulation results. This agreement indicates the validity of quantum mixing theory at a relatively high temperature up to the superconducting critical temperature. The measurement results show that at 100GHz band, the Nb SIS mixer can maintain a reasonable performance at the ambient temperature as high as 80% of the superconducting critical temperature. In addition to the gain and noise, the receiver stability in terms of Allen variance was also measured at various ambient temperatures without any apparent difference found.
Abstract : Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction mixers are known to provide ultra-high sensitivity receiver applications above 30 GHz. In this two year (Phase II) program, HYPRES, in collaboration with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, have developed novel fully integrated SIS mixer circuits, and demonstrated a unique high efficiency cooling system. The integrated SIS mixer chip contains, aside from the actual mixer elements, passive tuning components, an IF filter, a coplanar transmission line, and a waveguide coupler, necessary components heretofore realized off-chip. Fabrication of the integrated mixer required development of a nine level process and optimization of the process dependent electrical parameters of the SIS devices. The device performs efficiently in the range of 75-115 GHz. A novel dewar-based cooler, which makes use of the extremely low thermal conductivity of the fused silica chip substrate to achieve an incremental thermal load of 25 mW, was fabricated and demonstrated. Such a cryostat allows relatively long term unattended operation of SIS, or other, cryogenic devices.
This paper describes the development of superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) from the device point of view. During the construction phase of ALMA, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) successfully fabricated SIS mixers to meet the stringent ALMA noise temperature requirements of less than 230 K (5 times the quantum noise) for Band 10 (787-950 GHz) in collaboration with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. Band 10 covers the highest frequency band of ALMA and is recognized as the most difficult band in terms of superconducting technology. After the construction, the NAOJ began development studies for ALMA enhancement such as wideband and multibeam SIS mixers according to top-level science requirements, which are also presented.