Superconducting phase shifter in the development of a Terahertz Imaging Radar System. Final technical report, August 1986-January 1987
Sunil R. Baliga, Masoud Radparvar, S. M. Faris
A Terahertz Imaging Radar System which exploits superconductive electronics for all of its major components is described in this report. In particular, the importance of the superconducting millimeter(mm)-wave phase shifter in the development of such systems was fully investigated. The experimental and theoretical results presented are better than the authors expected to achieve under Phase I of the project. Conventional technology is unable to provide the high frequencies required to obtain small apertures for target acquisition. Superconducting technology offers a high-performance, very broadband and low-power, mm- and sub-mm wave phase shifter based on superconducting microstrips. The physics of the non-equilibrium superconductivity underlying the operation of the superconducting microstrip phase shifter has been studied. Theoretical analysis and numerous experimental results show that superconducting stripline modulation leading to phase velocity reduction and subsequent phase shift is achievable by quasi-particle injection. A digital N-bit phase shifter based on the superconducting microstrip transmission line is proposed for development. The implementations of such a mm and sub-mm wave phase shifter will fulfill a crucial need in the development of the Terahertz Imaging Radar.
•Oct 1, 1987•0 citations