A Noise Source Module for In-Situ Noise Figure Measurements From DC to 50 GHz at Cryogenic Temperatures

This letter presents the design and performance of a noise source module for in-situ noise temperature measurements at cryogenic temperatures. The noise source module operates from DC up to 50 GHz and is suitable for measurements of noise temperatures as low as a few Kelvin, achieving a measurement accuracy of about <formula formulatype="inline"> <tex Notation="TeX">$\pm {1.2}~{\rm K}$</tex></formula>. The GaAs MMIC used in the module includes a well matched 50 <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$\Omega$</tex></formula> termination with better than 20 dB return loss, a heating element and an on-chip temperature sensor, hence the noise source module can directly be connected to the device under test (DUT) with no additional elements or transitions needed. The measurement can then be taken with standard noise measurement equipment. Noise temperatures as low as 13 K have been measured in Ka-band with this device. Due to the ease of use, the good matching, the extraordinary bandwidth and the less involved calibration technique, the noise source module outperforms the conventional measurement setup using a noise diode in conjunction with a cooled attenuator.

[1]  Juan Daniel Gallego,et al.  Accuracy of Noise Temperature Measurement of Cryogenic Amplifiers , 1992 .

[2]  W. Deal,et al.  Low noise amplifier for 180 GHz frequency band , 2008, 2008 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.

[3]  Herbert Zirath,et al.  InP HEMT-based, cryogenic, wideband LNAs for 4-8 GHz operating at very low DC-power , 2002, Conference Proceedings. 14th Indium Phosphide and Related Materials Conference (Cat. No.02CH37307).

[4]  I. Kallfass,et al.  A single chip broadband noise source for noise measurements at cryogenic temperatures , 2011, 2011 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium.

[5]  Herbert Zirath,et al.  Cryogenic wide-band ultra-low-noise IF amplifiers operating at ultra-low DC power , 2003 .

[6]  J. E. Fernandez,et al.  A Noise-Temperature Measurement System Using a Cryogenic Attenuator , 1998 .

[7]  H. Zirath,et al.  Cryogenic 2-4 GHz ultra low noise amplifier , 2004, 2004 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37535).

[8]  P. Marshall,et al.  A 2 mW, Sub-2 dB Noise Figure, SiGe Low-Noise Amplifier For X-band High-Altitude or Space-based Radar Applications , 2007, 2007 IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFIC) Symposium.

[9]  H. Massler,et al.  4–12 GHz and 25–34 GHz cryogenic MHEMT MMIC Low Noise Amplifiers for radio astronomy , 2012, 2012 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest.