Development of Coherent Detector Technologies for Sub-Millimetre Wave Astronomy Observations / by Boon Kok Tan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tan, Boon Kok., Author.

Series:

Springer Theses, Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research, 2190-5061

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astronomy--Observations.

Astronomy.

Lasers.

Astronomy, Observations and Techniques.

Laser.

Local Subjects:

Astronomy, Observations and Techniques.

Laser.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (235 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2016.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2016.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The thesis describes the development of receiver technologies for sub-millimetre astronomy instruments, focusing on high performance coherent cryogenic detectors operating close to the superconductor gap frequency. The mixer chip which comprises the SIS devices, fed by a unilateral finline and matching planar circuits was fabricated on 15 micron silicon substrate using the recently developed Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) technology. This offered broadband IF and RF performance, with fully integrated on-chip planar circuits resulting in an easily reproducible mixer chip and a simple mixer block. An important consequence of this design is that it can be extended to the supra-THz region and making the fabrication of multi-pixel heterodyne arrays feasible. The extension of the operation of major telescopes such as ALMA, APEX and the GLT from single pixel to large format arrays is the subject of extensive research at present time since it will allow fast mapping combined with high resolution of the submillimetre sky. The technology described in this thesis makes a major contribution to this effort.

Contents:

Introduction,- Multiple flare-angle smooth-walled horn

SIS Mixer theory

Design of unilateral finline SIS mixer

Single-ended mixer tests

Single-chip integrated balanced SIS mixer

Design of 700 GHz single sideband SIS mixers

The characteristics of an SIS junction near its superconducting gap

Generation of local oscillator signal via photomixing

CO (3→2) Observations of NGC 2976 and NGC 3351

Concluding remarks

A Ancillary data of individual tested device

B Ancillary data of individual tested balanced device

C List of all beam patterns measured up to date

D 230 GHz scalable design

References.

Notes:

"Doctoral thesis accepted by University of Oxford, Oxford, UK."

Includes bibligraphical references at the end of each chapters and index.

ISBN:

3-319-19363-5