Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T19:58:53.186Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Low noise amplifier for radio astronomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2013

David M.P. Smith ,
Laurens Bakker ,
Roel H. Witvers ,
Bert E.M. Woestenburg  and
Keith D. Palmer
David M.P. Smith*
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa. Phone: + 31 521 595 152
Laurens Bakker
Affiliation:
ASTRON, Postbus 2, 7990 AA, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
Roel H. Witvers
Affiliation:
ASTRON, Postbus 2, 7990 AA, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
Bert E.M. Woestenburg
Affiliation:
ASTRON, Postbus 2, 7990 AA, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
Keith D. Palmer
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa. Phone: + 31 521 595 152
*
Corresponding author: D. M. P. Smith Email: smith@astron.nl
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A compact, microstrip, two-stage, room temperature, single-ended low noise amplifier (LNA) is designed using commercial components for Aperture Tile in Focus (APERTIF), a square kilometre array (SKA) pathfinder project. Various techniques are investigated to insert inductance between the source pad of the package and the ground plane of the printed circuit board (PCB), with the chosen design able to do this using standard manufacturing techniques. The desired noise temperature of 25 K (noise figure (NF) of 0.36 dB) is met over the 1.0–1.8 GHz band, with an input return loss better than 10 dB.

Keywords

Low noise and communication receiversModelingSimulationCharacterizations of devices and circuits
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , August 2013 , pp. 453 - 461
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1]Dewdney, P.E.; Hall, P.J.; Schilizzi, R.T.; Lazio, T.J.L.W.; etc. The square kilometre array. Proc. IEEE, 97 (8) (2009), 1482–1496.Google Scholar
[2]Carilli, C.L.; Rawlings, S.: Science with the square kilometre array. New Astron. Rev., 48 (11–12) (2004), 979–1606.Google Scholar
[3]Schilizzi, R.T.; et al. : Preliminary specifications for the square kilometre array. International SKA Project Office, Memo 100, 10 December 2007.Google Scholar
[4]Greenwood, C.: Status of Pathfinder Telescopes and Design Studies, International SKA Project Office, Tech. Rep., 10 December 2007.Google Scholar
[5]van Cappellen, W.A.; Bakker, L.: APERTIF: phased array feeds for the westerbork synthesis radio telescope, in IEEE Int. Symp. on Phased Array Systems and Technology, Boston, MA, USA, 12–15 October 2010, 640–647.Google Scholar
[6]Arts, M.; Ivashina, M.; Iupikov, O.; Bakker, L.; van den Brink, R.: Design of a low-loss low-noise tapered slot phased array feed for reflector antennas, in Proc. of the European Conf. on Antennas and Propagation, Barcelona, Spain, 12–16 April 2010, 1–5.Google Scholar
[7]bij de Vaate, J.G.; Bakker, L.; Woestenburg, E.E.M.; Witvers, R.H.; Kant, G.W.; van Cappellen, W.: Low cost low noise phased-array feeding systems for SKA pathfinders, in Int. Symp. on Antenna Technology and Applied Electromagnetics and the Canadian Radio Science Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada, 15–18 February 2009, 1–4.Google Scholar
[8]Bhaumik, S.; George, D.: Review of square kilometre array LNA technologies and topologies, in Widefield Science and Technology for the SKA, Château de Limelette, Belgium, 4–6 November 2009, 279–283.Google Scholar
[9]Belostotski, L.; Haslett, J.W.: Sub-0.2dB noise figure wideband room-temperature CMOS LNA with non-50 Ω signal-source impedance. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 42 (11) (2007), 2492–2502.Google Scholar
[10]Woestenburg, E.E.M.: Noise properties of balanced amplifier configurations. Int. J. Microw. Wirel. Techno., 3 (1) (2011), 67–75.Google Scholar
[11]Weinreb, S.; Bardin, J.C.; Mani, H.: Design of cryogenic SiGe low-noise amplifiers. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 55 (11) (2007), 2306–2312.Google Scholar