Development of a 385–500 GHz Sideband-Separating Balanced SIS Mixer

Abstract

A submillimeter (385-500 GHz) low-noise sideband-separating balanced SIS (Superconductor Insulator Superconductor) mixer (Balanced 2SB mixer) with high IRR (Image Rejection Ratio) has been successfully developed, whose SSB (Single SideBand) noise temperature is similar to 200 K (10hf/k) with an image rejection ratio of a parts per thousand yenaEuro parts per thousand a1/410 dB. Balanced mixers have become a promising technology which would break through the limitation especially in terahertz receivers and heterodyne arrays. However, though there are examples in microwave with relatively worse noise performance, submillimeter and terahertz balanced mixers have rarely been developed in spite of their astronomical importance. The developed balanced 2SB mixer is not only the first one demonstrated at submillimeter frequency range, but also has very low noise, high IRR, wide detectable frequencies (385-500 GHz), and a flat IF output spectrum. The balanced 2SB mixer is composed of three RF hybrids, four DSB (Double SideBand) mixers, two 180A degrees IF hybrids, and an IF quadrature hybrid. Several important performance indicators such as noise temperature, IRR, required LO (Local Oscillator) power, and IF spectra were measured. The measured LO power required for the balanced 2SB mixer was typically similar to 14 dB less than that of the single-ended mixers.