A SIS Mixer for ALMA Band 10: Development Concept

Conceptual design of waveguide and quasioptical mixers for ALMA Band-10 is presented along with SIS chip performance estimates. A combination of NbTiN/Al tuning circuit with the Nb-based high current density SIS junctions employing AlN tunnel barrier (A = 0.5 μm, Jc= 15 20 kA/cm) is suggested as the base-line. The following parameters are expected for a 20-Ω SIS mixer: Gm= -7.5...9 dB, Tm <200 K (DSB), PLO< 1 μW at 950 GHz. Tunerless full-height waveguide (280 μm × 140 μm) mixer will employ a single-side chip probe-antenna configuration. A chip-package concept is under development for quick mounting (replacement) of serial mixers. Quasioptical mixers will be used for material research and as an option for a weak LO source. A quasioptical balanced mixer can reduce LO power requirement down to only 3-5 μW for the whole two-polarized cartridge along with essential simplification of its optical scheme. The IF range of 4-12 GHz is simulated successfully for the quasioptical mixers.

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