Cryogenic Operation of GaAs Based Multiplier Chains to 400 GHz

Abstract

The FIRST/HIFI mission allows for the local oscillator frequency multiplier chains to be cooled to 120-150 K in order to increase available output power. This paper will discuss the implication of cooling on GaAs based planar Schottky diode varactors for flight applications. A robust testbed that has been built to measure output power over a wide range of frequencies will be described. Preliminary measurements at cryogenic temperatures done on individual multipliers at 200 GHz along with multiplier chains to 400 GHz will be presented. In a 182-212 GHz designed balanced doubler the peak efficiency at 201 GHz improves from 17% to 30% upon cooling from 300K to 50 K. When this stage is used to pump a 362-424 GHz designed balanced doubler the efficiency of the two-stage chain increases from less than 0.8% to 3%. This represents an increase in efficiency of 6 dB.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 29, 2000
Accession Number
ADP011745

Entities

People

  • A. Maestrini
  • D. Pukala
  • E. Schlecht
  • Frank Maiwald
  • G. Chattopadhyay

Organizations

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Amplifiers
  • Circuits
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Multipliers
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Local Oscillators
  • Measurement
  • Oscillators
  • Power Amplifiers
  • Power Levels
  • Power Measurement
  • Power Meters
  • Radiation
  • Schottky Diodes
  • Terahertz Radiation
  • Waves

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.