IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

Superconducting Integrated Receiver for TELIS

V. P. Koshelets, S. V. Shitov, Andrey B. Ermakov, Lyudmila V. Filippenko, Oleg V. Koryukin, Andrey V. Khudchenko, Mikhail Yu. Torgashin, Pavel A. Yagoubov, Ruud W. M. Hoogeveen, O. M. Pylypenko

Published Jun 1, 2005• 45 citations

Publisher

Abstract

TELIS (Terahertz and submm Limb Sounder) is a cooperative European project to develop a three-channel heterodyne balloon-based spectrometer for measuring a variety of atmospheric constituents within the lower stratosphere. The 600-650GHz channel is based on a phase-locked Superconducting Integrated Receiver (SIR). SIR is the on-chip combination of a low-noise SIS mixer with quasioptical antenna, a superconducting Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) acting as Local Oscillator (LO) and an SIS harmonic mixer (HM) for FFO phase locking. A number of new solutions was implemented in the new generation of SIR chips. To achieve the wide-band performance of the spectrometer, a side-feed twin-SIS mixer with 0.8 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ junctions integrated with a double-dipole (or double-slot) antenna is used. A Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) test demonstrated a possibility to obtain the required instantaneous bandwidth for the SIS mixer. To ensure the autonomous operation of the phase-locked SIR on the balloon a number of approaches for the PLL SIR automatic control have been developed.

DOI: 10.1109/tasc.2005.850138

Related papers

Superconducting Submm Integrated Receiver for TELIS

V. P. Koshelets, An. B. Ermakov, Lyudmila V. Filippenko +9 more

In this report we present design and first experimental results for development of the submm superconducting integrated receiver spectrometer for Terahertz Limb Sounder (TELIS). TELIS is a collaborative European project to build up a three-channel heterodyne balloon-based spectrometer for measuring a variety of atmospheric constituents of the stratosphere. The 550 - 650 GHz channel of TELIS is based on a phase-locked Superconducting Integrated Receiver (SIR). SIR is an on-chip combination of a low-noise Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) mixer with quasioptical antenna, a superconducting Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) acting as Local Oscillator (LO), and SIS harmonic mixer (HM) for FFO phase locking. A number of new solutions were implemented in the new generation of SIR chips. To achieve the wide-band performance of the spectrometer, a side-feed twin-SIS mixer and balanced SIS mixer with 0.8 µm 2 junctions integrated with a double-dipole (or double-slot) antenna is used. An improved design of the FFO for TELIS has been developed and optimized providing a free-running linewidth between 10 and 2 MHz in the frequency range 500 - 700 GHz. It is important to ensure that tuning of a phase-locked (PL) SIR can be performed remotely by telecommand. For this purpose a number of approaches for the PL SIR automatic computer control have been developed. All receiver components (including input optical elements and Martin-Puplett polarization rotating interferometer for single side band operation) will be mounted on a single 4.2 K plate inside a 40 × 180 × 80 mm 3 box. First measurements give an uncorrected double side band (DSB) noise temperature below 250 K measured with the phase-locked FFO; more detailed results are presented at the conference.

Journal of Physics Conference SeriesJun 1, 20060 citations

Superconducting Integrated Spectrometer for TELIS

V. P. Koshelets, Andrey B. Ermakov, Pavel N. Dmitriev +9 more

We report on the results of developing a single-chip superconducting integrated receiver which is the key element of the 500 -650 GHz spectrometer for the Terahertz Limb Sounder (TELIS) balloon project. TELIS is a collaborative European project to develop a three-channel heterodyne balloon-based spectrometer for measuring a variety of atmospheric constituents of the stratosphere. The Superconducting Integrated Receiver (SIR) comprises in one chip a planar antenna integrated with an SIS mixer, a superconducting Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) acting as Local Oscillator (LO) and a second SIS harmonic mixer (HM) for the FFO phase locking. As a result of the FFO design optimization a free-running linewidth between 9 and 1.5 MHz has been measured in the frequency range 500 – 710 GHz resulting in phase-locking of 35 to 95 % of the FFO power correspondingly. A new generation of the SIR devices with improved FFO performance and optimized interface between FFO and SIS/HM has been developed and comprehensively tested; all required TELIS parameters were demonstrated. Phase–locked FFO operation over entire SIR channel frequency range has been realized, spectral resolution below 1 MHz has been confirmed by gas cell and CW signal measurements. An uncorrected double side band (DSB) noise temperature about 200 K has been measured with the phase-locked FFO. The intermediate frequency bandwidth 4-8 GHz has been realized. To ensure remote operation of the phase-locked SIR several procedures for its automatic computer control have been developed and tested. To overcome temperature constraints and extend operation frequency of the all-Nb SIR we have developed and studied Nb-AlN-NbN-Nb circuits with a gap voltage Vg up to 3.7 mV and extremely low leakage currents (Rj/Rn > 30). Based on these junctions integrated microcircuits comprising FFO and harmonic mixer have been designed, fabricated and tested; the radiation from such circuits has been measured at frequencies up to 700 GHz. Employment of NbN electrode does not result in the appearance of additional noise. For example, FFO linewidth as low as 1 MHz was measured at 600 GHz, that allows us to phase lock up to 92 % of the emitted by FFO power and realize very low phase noise about –90 dBc. Preliminary results demonstrated uncorrected DSB noise temperature of the Nb-AlN-NbN SIR below 250 K at frequencies of primary TELIS interest around 500 and 600 GHz. We expect that Nb-AlN-NbN-Nb device will be used for the first qualification TELIS flight that is scheduled on April 2007.

Jan 1, 20070 citations

Superconducting Submm Integrated Receiver with Phase-Locked Flux-Flow Oscillator for TELIS

V. P. Koshelets, Pavel N. Dmitriev, Andrey B. Ermakov +7 more

We present results of a single-chip superconducting integrated receiver development for the Terahertz Limb Sounder (TELIS) balloon project. TELIS is a collaborative European project to build a three-channel heterodyne balloon-based spectrometer for measuring a variety of the stratosphere constituents. The Superconducting Integrated Receiver (SIR) comprises in one chip a planar antenna integrated with a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer, a superconducting Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) acting as Local Oscillator (LO) and a second SIS harmonic mixer (HM) for FFO phase locking. An improved design of the FFO for TELIS has been developed and optimized. A free-running linewidth between 9 and 2 MHz has been measured in the frequency range 500 - 710 GHz. As a result the spectral ratio of the phased-locked FFO varies from 35 to 90 % correspondingly, ensuring that at least half of the phase-locked FFO power in the primary frequency range for TELIS (550-650 GHz). The FFO performance required for successful TELIS operation is discussed. New generation of the SIR for TELIS with improved FFO performance has been developed and preliminary tested. It is important to ensure that tuning of a phase-locked (PL) SIR can be performed remotely by telecommand. For this purpose a number of approaches for the PL SIR automatic computer control have been developed. Preliminary measurements give an uncorrected double side band (DSB) noise temperature of about 200 K measured at 2.1 K with the FFO phase-locked at 660 GHz. The effect of FFO linewidth imperfections on retrieval procedure is discussed.

Softwaretechnik-TrendsMay 1, 20056 citations

Superconducting Integrated Receiver on Board TELIS

Pavel A. Yagoubov, Gert J. de Lange, Hans Golstein +9 more

Abstract — In this paper we present configuration and performance of the 480- 650 GHz channel for the Terahertz Limb Sounder (TELIS), a three-channel balloon-borne heterodyne spectrometer for atmospheric research. This frequency channel is based on a phase-locked Superconducting Integrated Receiver (SIR). SIR is an on-chip combination of a low-noise SIS mixer with quasioptical antenna, a superconducting Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) acting as Local Oscillator (LO) and SIS harmonic mixer (HM) for FFO phase locking. The microcircuit is designed as a quasioptical mixer. The SIR channel has been integrated into the TELIS system in the end 2006 and fully characterized during 2007/2008 in preparation for the flight campaign. In May 2008 TELIS was shipped to Brazil where it was integrated into the MIPAS-B gondola. The TELIS-MIPAS test flight took place in June 2008 in Teresina, Brazil. I.

Softwaretechnik-TrendsApr 1, 20083 citations

550-650 GHz spectrometer development for TELIS

Pavel A. Yagoubov, W. J. Vreeling, Herman van de Stadt +5 more

In this paper we present design and first experimental results of the 550 650 GHz channel for the Terahertz Limb Sounder (TELIS), a three-channel balloon-borne heterodyne spectrometer for atmospheric research. This frequency channel is based on a phase-locked Superconducting Integrated Receiver (SIR). SIR is an on-chip combination of a low-noise SIS mixer with quasioptical antenna, a superconducting Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) acting as Local Oscillator (LO) and SIS harmonic mixer (HM) for FFO phase locking. The microcircuit is designed as a quasioptical mixer. Amplification of the mixer IF signal and first stage PLL circuitry is done by InP based low noise HEMT amplifiers. Optical design analysis and first experimental results, which include FTS and noise temperature measurements, are reported. Index Terms — Josephson mixers, integrated receiver, superconducting devices

May 1, 200513 citations

Superconducting Integrated Submillimeter Receiver for TELIS

V. P. Koshelets, Andrey B. Ermakov, Lyudmila V. Filippenko +7 more

In this report an overview of the results on the development of a single-chip superconducting integrated receiver for the Terahertz Limb Sounder (TELIS) balloon project intended to measure a variety of stratosphere trace gases is presented. The Superconducting Integrated Receiver (SIR) comprises in one chip a planar antenna integrated with a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer, a superconducting Flux Flow Oscillator (FFO) acting as local oscillator (LO) and a second SIS harmonic mixer (HM) for FFO phase locking. As a result of the FFO design optimization a free-running linewidth between 9 and 1.5 MHz has been measured in the frequency range 500-710 GHz resulting in phase-locking of 35 to 95% of the FFO power correspondingly. A new generation of the SIR devices with improved FFO performance and optimized interface between FFO and SIS/HM has been developed and comprehensively tested. As a result all required TELIS parameters were demonstrated. Phase-locked FFO operation over entire SIR channel frequency range has been realized, spectral resolution below 1 MHz has been confirmed by gas cell and CW signal measurements. An uncorrected double side band (DSB) noise temperature below 250 K has been measured with the phase-locked FFO. The intermediate frequency bandwidth 4-8 GHz has been realized. To ensure remote operation of the phase-locked SIR several procedures for its automatic computer control have been developed and tested.

IEEE Transactions on Applied SuperconductivityJun 1, 200735 citations