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

International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz)

A 100 - 115 GHz SIS receiver for radio astronomy

Hideo Ogawa

Published Oct 1, 1991• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A 110 GHz superconductor insulator superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction receiver has been developed and used in regular astronomical observations on the 4m radio telescope at the Department of Astrophysics, Nagoya University. The SIS junction consists of a sandwich structure of Nb/AlOx/Nb, and is cooled to 4.2K with a closed cycle He-gas refrigerator. The receiver exhibits a best double side band noise temperature of 17±2 K at 110GHz. The receiver has a good response over this input frequency range of 98-115 GHz.

DOI
10.1117/12.2297780

Related papers

Low-noise THz-range Nb based SIS Receivers for Radio Astronomy

Kirill I. Rudakov, Andrey V. Khudchenko, Lyudmila V. Filippenko +4 more

This repost describes our results on development of low-noise heterodyne THz receivers for ground based and space radio astronomy. Superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers that employ high quality Nb-based tunnel junctions are the key element of the most sensitive heterodyne THz receivers. In particular we present here the SIS receivers for frequency range 211-275 GHz and 800-950 GHz with double sideband (DSB) noise temperature of about 25 K and 220 K, respectively. The latest results on development, fabrication techniques and experimental study of the SIS receivers will be discussed.

International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz)•Nov 8, 2020•7 citations

Development of superconducting THz receivers for radio astronomy

Yoshinori Uzawa, Yasunori Fujii, M. Kroug +8 more

A total of 73 dual polarization superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) receivers for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have been successfully produced to observe astronomical signals in the 787-950 GHz frequency band. The receivers use two double sideband (DSB) waveguide mixers with Nb/AlOx/Nb tunnel junctions and NbTiN/SiO2/Al microstrip tuning circuits on quartz substrate. The best achieved DSB receiver noise temperature is 125 K, corresponding to about 3 hf/kBfor 4 K operation.

International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz)•Sep 1, 2016•2 citations

Development of an SIS(Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) Junction Mixer over 120∼180 GHz Band

Moon‐Hee Chung, Changhoon Lee, Kwang-Dong Kim +1 more

A fixed-tuned SIS(Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) mixer across 120∼180 GHz band has been developed. This mixer employs an SIS chip fabricated by Nobeyama radio observatory which consists of a series array of 6 Nb/Al-AlO/Nb junctions in a microstrip line on a fused quartz substrate. The SIS chip is placed at the center of the half-height waveguide mixer mount to have a good incoming signal coupling over the whole frequency band. No mechanical tuner was used in the SIS mixer and the RF signal and local oscillator power are injected to the mixer via a cooled cross-guide coupler. In order to prevent the IF signal loss, the If output impedance of the SIS mixer was matched to the 50 input impedance of the IF chain. Measured double sideband noise temperatures of a receiver using the SIS mixer are 32∼131 K over 120∼180 GHz band. The developed SIS mixer is now in use for radio astronomical observations on the TRAO 14 m radio telescope.

The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science•Jan 1, 2004•0 citations

THz Range Low-Noise SIS Receivers for Space and Ground-Based Radio Astronomy

Kirill I. Rudakov, Andrey V. Khudchenko, Lyudmila V. Filippenko +5 more

We report on research in the field of low-noise receiving systems in the sub-terahertz (THz) range, carried out in recent years, aimed at developing receivers with quantum sensitivity for implementation in space and ground-based radio telescopes. Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) mixers based on high-quality tunnel junctions are the key elements of the most sensitive sub-THz heterodyne receivers. Motivations and physical background for technology improvement and optimization, as well as fabrication details, are described. This article presents the results of the SIS receiver developments for the 211–275 GHz and 790–950 GHz frequency ranges with a noise temperature in the double sideband (DSB) mode of approximTELY 20 K and 200 K, respectively. These designs and achievements are implemented in the development of the receiving systems for the Russian Space Agency mission “Millimetron”, and for the ground-based APEX (Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment) telescope.

Applied Sciences•Oct 28, 2021•36 citations

Superconducting Sub-THz Receivers for Space and Ground-Based Radio Astronomy

V. P. Koshelets, Kirill I. Rudakov, Andrey V. Khudchenko +5 more

Abstract The developments in the field of low-noise receiving systems in the sub-THz range, performed at the Kotelnikov Institute of Radio Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences in recent years and aimed at the creation of receivers with quantum sensitivity for space and ground-based radio telescopes are presented. Superconductor–insulator–superconductor (SIS) mixers based on high-quality tunnel junctions are key elements of the most sensitive sub-THz heterodyne receivers. The article presents the results of the development of SIS receivers in the 211–275 GHz and 800–950 GHz ranges with a noise temperature in the double-sideband (DSB) mode of about 20 K and 220 K, respectively. These achievements will be used to develop receiving systems for APEX and LLMA ground-based telescopes, as well as for the Millimetron space mission.

Bulletin of the Lebedev Physics Institute•Sep 1, 2021•4 citations

Applications of mm-wave SIS mixers to middle atmosphere monitoring systems

Hideo Suzuki, Takeshi Imamura, Naoki Yokoyama +4 more

We have already developed a low-noise 100 GHz band (98-115 GHz) SIS mixer using Nb/AlOx/Nb junction technology. The mixer has a noise temperature of 17 K when used as a double sideband (DSB) heterodyne receiver. The SIS receiver has been in use in the 4 m radio telescope at Nagoya University for five years. As a further application of the SIS mixer, we developed middle-atmosphere ozone monitoring system using an SIS mixer for the first time. The system can measure ozone mixing ratio every 5 minutes. The integration time is less than 1/10 of the time needed in a conventional system using Schottky barrier diode (SBD) mixers. We have also begun developing developing a 200 GHz band (210-280 GHz) SIS mixer for radio astronomy and for monitoring other minor constituents such as ClO. The preliminary experiment showed that the mixer has a rather low noise temperature of 60 K (DSB).>

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity•Jun 1, 1995•3 citations
A 110 GHz superconductor insulator superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction receiver has been developed and used in regular astronomical observations on the 4m radio telescope at the Department of Astrophysics, Nagoya University. The SIS junction consists of a sandwich structure of Nb/AlOx/Nb, and is cooled to 4.2K with a closed cycle He-gas refrigerator. The receiver exhibits a best double side band noise temperature of 17±2 K at 110GHz. The receiver has a good response over this input frequency range of 98-115 GHz.
This repost describes our results on development of low-noise heterodyne THz receivers for ground based and space radio astronomy. Superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers that employ high quality Nb-based tunnel junctions are the key element of the most sensitive heterodyne THz receivers. In particular we present here the SIS receivers for frequency range 211-275 GHz and 800-950 GHz with double sideband (DSB) noise temperature of about 25 K and 220 K, respectively. The latest results on development, fabrication techniques and experimental study of the SIS receivers will be discussed.
A total of 73 dual polarization superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) receivers for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have been successfully produced to observe astronomical signals in the 787-950 GHz frequency band. The receivers use two double sideband (DSB) waveguide mixers with Nb/AlOx/Nb tunnel junctions and NbTiN/SiO2/Al microstrip tuning circuits on quartz substrate. The best achieved DSB receiver noise temperature is 125 K, corresponding to about 3 hf/kBfor 4 K operation.
A fixed-tuned SIS(Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor) mixer across 120∼180 GHz band has been developed. This mixer employs an SIS chip fabricated by Nobeyama radio observatory which consists of a series array of 6 Nb/Al-AlO/Nb junctions in a microstrip line on a fused quartz substrate. The SIS chip is placed at the center of the half-height waveguide mixer mount to have a good incoming signal coupling over the whole frequency band. No mechanical tuner was used in the SIS mixer and the RF signal and local oscillator power are injected to the mixer via a cooled cross-guide coupler. In order to prevent the IF signal loss, the If output impedance of the SIS mixer was matched to the 50 input impedance of the IF chain. Measured double sideband noise temperatures of a receiver using the SIS mixer are 32∼131 K over 120∼180 GHz band. The developed SIS mixer is now in use for radio astronomical observations on the TRAO 14 m radio telescope.
We report on research in the field of low-noise receiving systems in the sub-terahertz (THz) range, carried out in recent years, aimed at developing receivers with quantum sensitivity for implementation in space and ground-based radio telescopes. Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) mixers based on high-quality tunnel junctions are the key elements of the most sensitive sub-THz heterodyne receivers. Motivations and physical background for technology improvement and optimization, as well as fabrication details, are described. This article presents the results of the SIS receiver developments for the 211–275 GHz and 790–950 GHz frequency ranges with a noise temperature in the double sideband (DSB) mode of approximTELY 20 K and 200 K, respectively. These designs and achievements are implemented in the development of the receiving systems for the Russian Space Agency mission “Millimetron”, and for the ground-based APEX (Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment) telescope.
Abstract The developments in the field of low-noise receiving systems in the sub-THz range, performed at the Kotelnikov Institute of Radio Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences in recent years and aimed at the creation of receivers with quantum sensitivity for space and ground-based radio telescopes are presented. Superconductor–insulator–superconductor (SIS) mixers based on high-quality tunnel junctions are key elements of the most sensitive sub-THz heterodyne receivers. The article presents the results of the development of SIS receivers in the 211–275 GHz and 800–950 GHz ranges with a noise temperature in the double-sideband (DSB) mode of about 20 K and 220 K, respectively. These achievements will be used to develop receiving systems for APEX and LLMA ground-based telescopes, as well as for the Millimetron space mission.
We have already developed a low-noise 100 GHz band (98-115 GHz) SIS mixer using Nb/AlOx/Nb junction technology. The mixer has a noise temperature of 17 K when used as a double sideband (DSB) heterodyne receiver. The SIS receiver has been in use in the 4 m radio telescope at Nagoya University for five years. As a further application of the SIS mixer, we developed middle-atmosphere ozone monitoring system using an SIS mixer for the first time. The system can measure ozone mixing ratio every 5 minutes. The integration time is less than 1/10 of the time needed in a conventional system using Schottky barrier diode (SBD) mixers. We have also begun developing developing a 200 GHz band (210-280 GHz) SIS mixer for radio astronomy and for monitoring other minor constituents such as ClO. The preliminary experiment showed that the mixer has a rather low noise temperature of 60 K (DSB).>