W band power amplifier development for the Herschel HIFI instrument

Robert Ferber; Todd C. Gaier; John C. Pearson; Lorene A. Samoska; Mary Wells; Gerard Swift; Paul Yocom; Yun Chung; April Campbell

doi:10.1117/12.459192

17 February 2003 W band power amplifier development for the Herschel HIFI instrument

Robert Ferber, Todd C. Gaier, John C. Pearson, Lorene A. Samoska, Mary Wells, Gerard Swift, Paul Yocom, Yun Chung, April Campbell

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4855, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459192
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

This paper summarizes the development of W Band amplifiers for the Local Oscillator (LO) chains for the Herschel HIFI (Heterodyne Instrument for Far Infrared) Instrument. Key amplifier development issues and their solutions are presented, which have been applied on the way to realizing stable, wide-band amplifiers capable of producing 240 mW or greater RF power output across the 71 to 106 GHz frequency range. The HIFI power amplifier design embodiment is based on an A-40 silicon-aluminum alloy package with six GaAs(Gallium Arsenide) HEMT(High Electron Mobility Transistors) MMIC(Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit) amplifier chips used in each amplifier. Development challenges addressed include: MMIC chip designs which initially had a variety of oscillation or "moding" propensities (mostly out-fo-band), signal splitter and combiner development and matching across the band, matching of chip characteristics for those chips installed in the parallel power combined arms of the amplifier, power output control and leveling. The chosen design solutions are presented, including device, component and material selection for amplifier operation at cryogenic temperatures. Room temperature and cryogenic (120 Kelvin) data is also shown for the amplifier.

Citation Download Citation

Robert Ferber, Todd C. Gaier, John C. Pearson, Lorene A. Samoska, Mary Wells, Gerard Swift, Paul Yocom, Yun Chung, and April Campbell "W band power amplifier development for the Herschel HIFI instrument", Proc. SPIE 4855, Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors for Astronomy, (17 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459192

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available