Potentialities of HTS Superconductor Technology in Telecommunication Satellites
Abstract
High temperature super-conductive (HTS) technology is presented as a disruptive technology able to improve the performances of microwave equipment: mass and volume savings, electrical properties, etc. To verify the well-founded of these qualities for telecom satellite payloads, the research department of Alcatel Space has studied two proof-of-concept of microwave space equipment including super-conductive and chill electronics. The objectives of these projects are to estimate the potential of HTS technology, evaluate the impact of the cryo-system on the satellite platform, determine the threshold of interest and estimate the development duration between the state of art and future credible equipment for commercial applications. In this paper, HTS is based on super-conductive thin film material. The material is YBaCuO or TlBaCuO deposited on LaAlO3 or MgO substrates. The reduced microwave resistivity of HTS thin films compared to copper allows realizing micro-strip or coplanar resonators and lines which are more compact than classical cavity resonators. Super-conductive micro-strip has a quality factor equivalent to the one of a bulk resonator in C-band. Thin films are etched to obtain elementary resonators and mutual coupling between resonators. The steady progress of electromagnetic simulation software associated with the reproducibility of etching process is a way to make up filters without the tedious resonator tuning inherent to bulk filters and reduced the manufacturing cost. In association with HTS device, cooling permits the introduction of chill electronics in the equipment. It is known that operating at low physical temperature decreases the noise factor of radio frequency amplifier (LNA).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 13, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA445515
Entities
People
- B. Brevart
- C. Zanchi
- M. Maignan
- T. Trollier
- V. Madrangeas