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Cryogenic operation of submillimeter quasioptical mixers

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Abstract

We report here the first results obtained by cooling a submillimeter quasioptical mixer, utilizing a Schottky diode in a corner reflector mixer structure. Measurements have been carried out at a wavelength of 434 microns. The diode inverse slope parameter Vo at low current decreases by a factor of 3 upon cooling to 50 K while the minimum system noise temperature of 5600 K (SSB), including the IF contribution, demonstrates a reduction of approximately 40% from the ambient temperature value. We also report improved system noise temperatures at 184 μm and 119 μm wavelengths of 38000 K and 64000 K (SSB), respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Massachusetts, 01003, Amherst, MA

    P. F. Goldsmith & N. R. Erickson

  2. MIT Lincoln Laboratory, 02173, Lexington, MA

    H. R. Fetterman, B. J. Clifton & C. D. Parker

Authors
  1. P. F. Goldsmith
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  2. H. R. Fetterman
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  3. B. J. Clifton
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  4. C. D. Parker
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  5. N. R. Erickson
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Additional information

This work was supported by the Army Research Office and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

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Goldsmith, P.F., Fetterman, H.R., Clifton, B.J. et al. Cryogenic operation of submillimeter quasioptical mixers. Int J Infrared Milli Waves 2, 915–924 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01006938

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01006938

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