Capacity Building for Thai Astronomy Phase 3: Establishing NARIT Millimetre Laboratory for Developing State-of-the-Art Astronomical Receivers
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
JCMT is the largest existing single dish millimetre (mm) and sub-millimetre telescope in the world, originally built by UK, and stationed at the Mauna Kea peak of the Haiwai'i island. The telescope is currently owned and operated by the East Asia Observatory (EAO), in which NARIT is a member of the organisation. NARIT is also heavily involved in the EAO up-coming plan to upgrade the various receiver instruments hosted in JCMT, in particular the heterodyne array HARP-B, which is a 16-pixel superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixer receiver. The plan is to replace HARP-B with a cutting-edge compact high sensitivity instrument with even larger pixel count to expand the mapping area and increase the mapping speed by at least an order of magnitude. The new receiver needs to be housed within the existing restricted space in the receiver cabin of JCMT without the need for major re-engineering of the facility, and this could be done by employing the latest heterodyne receiver technologies.
The success of this upgrading programme relies on the combination of various state-of-the-art technologies and support from numerous resources, which inevitably comes with significant human capacity and skills development challenges. Currently, Thailand has few astronomers or engineers who can design, construct and operate the instrument. But the pool of talented candidates whom can be trained and performed the job is large, due to the country's strong educational programme that equips the students with the required fundamental skills to uptake the challenging tasks. On the other hand, the scientific community in UK, particular the group in the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester, have many years of experience in developing technologies in the mm-wave and building instruments for various astronomical applications. Therefore, through this proposal, we aim to address these challenges by tapping into the UK's long heritage and highly developed skills in mm-wave astronomy and instrumentation, to train and prepare the personnel in NARIT with the fundamental skill-sets and technical know-how to contribute to the long-term programme of constructing mm-wave instruments for JCMT, and many other instruments, in the near future.
The two main research topics proposed in this program that would allow us to use these as platform to provide training and knowledge transfers are 1) Constructing a prototype linear 1 x 4 SIS mixer array at 350 GHz that could be further extended and stacked to form a much larger array e.g., an 8 x 8, 64-pixel array, aiming to upgrade the existing HARP-B in JCMT; and 2) Development of Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) above 70 GHz and produce compact and highly integrated packaging scheme for Focal Plane Array (FPA) receivers. These LNAs would have applications on the new Thai National Radio Telescope (125 GHz receiver) and JCMT (200-350 GHz), both of which NARIT have access to. We will use these research targets as the vehicle for technology transfer via bilateral UK-Thailand collaboration. Both projects will also incorporate many key skills of value to a developing knowledge economy such as engineering, electronics, cryogenics and telecommunications technology etc. We will also partner with the Thai astronomical and technical community to further propagate the technical knowledge acquired from astronomy instrumentation to the wider audience, bolstering the Thai general population skill base e.g., via public talks and outreach programme. This programme will not only help to develop the skills that Thailand urgently needs at this stage, but will also have impact on the wider economy through the increased uptake of undergraduates and graduates in Science Technology Engineering and Medicine (STEM) area, and up-skilling of current graduates and postgraduates in various other advanced science and technological fields.
The success of this upgrading programme relies on the combination of various state-of-the-art technologies and support from numerous resources, which inevitably comes with significant human capacity and skills development challenges. Currently, Thailand has few astronomers or engineers who can design, construct and operate the instrument. But the pool of talented candidates whom can be trained and performed the job is large, due to the country's strong educational programme that equips the students with the required fundamental skills to uptake the challenging tasks. On the other hand, the scientific community in UK, particular the group in the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester, have many years of experience in developing technologies in the mm-wave and building instruments for various astronomical applications. Therefore, through this proposal, we aim to address these challenges by tapping into the UK's long heritage and highly developed skills in mm-wave astronomy and instrumentation, to train and prepare the personnel in NARIT with the fundamental skill-sets and technical know-how to contribute to the long-term programme of constructing mm-wave instruments for JCMT, and many other instruments, in the near future.
The two main research topics proposed in this program that would allow us to use these as platform to provide training and knowledge transfers are 1) Constructing a prototype linear 1 x 4 SIS mixer array at 350 GHz that could be further extended and stacked to form a much larger array e.g., an 8 x 8, 64-pixel array, aiming to upgrade the existing HARP-B in JCMT; and 2) Development of Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) above 70 GHz and produce compact and highly integrated packaging scheme for Focal Plane Array (FPA) receivers. These LNAs would have applications on the new Thai National Radio Telescope (125 GHz receiver) and JCMT (200-350 GHz), both of which NARIT have access to. We will use these research targets as the vehicle for technology transfer via bilateral UK-Thailand collaboration. Both projects will also incorporate many key skills of value to a developing knowledge economy such as engineering, electronics, cryogenics and telecommunications technology etc. We will also partner with the Thai astronomical and technical community to further propagate the technical knowledge acquired from astronomy instrumentation to the wider audience, bolstering the Thai general population skill base e.g., via public talks and outreach programme. This programme will not only help to develop the skills that Thailand urgently needs at this stage, but will also have impact on the wider economy through the increased uptake of undergraduates and graduates in Science Technology Engineering and Medicine (STEM) area, and up-skilling of current graduates and postgraduates in various other advanced science and technological fields.
Planned Impact
Thailand is a country that aspires in the long term to achieve the status of developed country, which means improving the national income of the individuals and the living standards of the population. At present, Thailand is in the transitional period of transforming its core economic activities from relying mainly on traditional labour-intense to high-tech driven industries where they can create and innovate their own technologies, cultivating Thailand as a central hub of high-tech industries in South East Asia. This in turn creates more economical and social links with the world, in particular with the UK, fostering more trade and technological exchanges, which will eventually benefit all countries involved in the future.
One important method of achieving this is through technological skills and knowledge transfer, and the development of highly skilled graduates and undergraduates in science and technology. By building the foundation and expanding a larger pool of qualified scientists and engineers through higher educational standards and involvement in international research programmes, they will be well equipped with the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to become further engaged in both basic scientific explorations and establishment of new high-tech industries.
The research programme described in this application focuses on developing mm-wave instrumentation for astronomy, and therefore new talents from the pool of local technicians, students, scientists and engineers will be given the opportunity, for the first time, to be trained in these high RF frequency related technologies. These technologies will form the basis of and serve as the beacons to open up new industries in Thailand, such as cryogenic & microwave RF engineering, superconducting thin-film fabrication, state-of-the-art micro-machining industry etc.
A direct consequence of this project is to allow NARIT to extend its technological capabilities and infrastructures to the mm wavelengths. This is important, because it would allow the Thai astronomy community to study the microwave and mm astronomy, which involve studies of cosmic microwave background and the formation of galaxies and stars in the Universe. It will also allow them to become a core member of the EAO that is keen to explore both the astronomy and technology in this area.
The scientific development in this technological area is only a part of a successful story, the other part is to bring these technologies to a wider and further audience group, including all the potential end users in Thailand and nearby regions by organising a workshop on Terahertz Technology and Applications in the later part of the project. Not only the astronomers, graduates and instrumentation developers, but also people from telecommunications, satellite and other related industries will be invited. NARIT has a very good track record of workshops and public engagement. The workshop will be carried out in collaboration the IAU Regional Office and the UNESCO training centre based at NARIT. The workshop will stimulate wider engagement in mm astronomy and instrumentation, promoting the uptake of Thai students into STEM education, and train potential users on applying and innovating on these new cutting-edge technologies. This will result in wider dissemination of the technologies founded astronomy into broader related industries, benefiting both Thailand and the worldwide scientific and technological communities.
One important method of achieving this is through technological skills and knowledge transfer, and the development of highly skilled graduates and undergraduates in science and technology. By building the foundation and expanding a larger pool of qualified scientists and engineers through higher educational standards and involvement in international research programmes, they will be well equipped with the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to become further engaged in both basic scientific explorations and establishment of new high-tech industries.
The research programme described in this application focuses on developing mm-wave instrumentation for astronomy, and therefore new talents from the pool of local technicians, students, scientists and engineers will be given the opportunity, for the first time, to be trained in these high RF frequency related technologies. These technologies will form the basis of and serve as the beacons to open up new industries in Thailand, such as cryogenic & microwave RF engineering, superconducting thin-film fabrication, state-of-the-art micro-machining industry etc.
A direct consequence of this project is to allow NARIT to extend its technological capabilities and infrastructures to the mm wavelengths. This is important, because it would allow the Thai astronomy community to study the microwave and mm astronomy, which involve studies of cosmic microwave background and the formation of galaxies and stars in the Universe. It will also allow them to become a core member of the EAO that is keen to explore both the astronomy and technology in this area.
The scientific development in this technological area is only a part of a successful story, the other part is to bring these technologies to a wider and further audience group, including all the potential end users in Thailand and nearby regions by organising a workshop on Terahertz Technology and Applications in the later part of the project. Not only the astronomers, graduates and instrumentation developers, but also people from telecommunications, satellite and other related industries will be invited. NARIT has a very good track record of workshops and public engagement. The workshop will be carried out in collaboration the IAU Regional Office and the UNESCO training centre based at NARIT. The workshop will stimulate wider engagement in mm astronomy and instrumentation, promoting the uptake of Thai students into STEM education, and train potential users on applying and innovating on these new cutting-edge technologies. This will result in wider dissemination of the technologies founded astronomy into broader related industries, benefiting both Thailand and the worldwide scientific and technological communities.
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Collaboration)
- East Asian Observatory (Collaboration)
- University of Groningen (Collaboration)
- Seoul National University (Collaboration)
- National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Collaboration)
- Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Collaboration)
- Observatory of Paris (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
Garrett J
(2022)
A 230-GHz Endfire SIS Mixer With Near Quantum-Limited Performance
in IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters
Kittara P.
(2008)
High performance smooth-walled feed horns for focal plane arrays
in Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology, ISSTT 2008
Rigopoulou D.
(2021)
The Far-Infrared Spectroscopic Surveyor (FIRSS)
in Experimental Astronomy
Traini A
(2020)
The Influence of LO Power Heating of the Tunnel Junction on the Performance of THz SIS Mixers
in IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology
Description | Public outreach at NARIT Thailand |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Establishing NARIT Millimetre Laboratory for Developing State-of-the-Art Astronomical Receivers |
Amount | ฿2,554,200 (THB) |
Organisation | National Astronomical Research Institute Of Thailand |
Sector | Public |
Country | Thailand |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 12/2023 |
Description | Establishing NARIT Millimetre Laboratory for Developing State-of-the-Art Astronomical Recerviers |
Amount | ฿4,560,000 (THB) |
Organisation | National Astronomical Research Institute Of Thailand |
Sector | Public |
Country | Thailand |
Start | 01/2024 |
End | 12/2024 |
Description | European Commission Horizon-Infra-2022-Tech-01 |
Amount | € 10,000,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 03/2023 |
End | 03/2027 |
Title | Planar microstrip coupler |
Description | Invented a new method to enhance the power coupling of a planar microstrip coupler to simplify the fabrication of astronomical detector circuits |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Used in astronomical detectors. |
Title | Planar signal cross-coupler |
Description | Innovate new method to provide controllable power coupling between two crossing planar transmission line |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Resulted in a patent. Used in design of THz quantum mixer for astronomy, and multi-beam phase array for telecommunications. |
Description | Development of Heterodyne Instrument for US Probe Mission FIRSST |
Organisation | Observatory of Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Exploring potential to build a heterodyne instrument for a proposed US probe mission FIRSST |
Collaborator Contribution | Exploring potential to build a heterodyne instrument for a proposed US probe mission FIRSST |
Impact | No outcome yet. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Development of Heterodyne Instrument for US Probe Mission FIRSST |
Organisation | University of Groningen |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Exploring potential to build a heterodyne instrument for a proposed US probe mission FIRSST |
Collaborator Contribution | Exploring potential to build a heterodyne instrument for a proposed US probe mission FIRSST |
Impact | No outcome yet. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Development of Superconducting Quantum Devices |
Organisation | Observatory of Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Development of various superconducting quantum devices including SIS mixer, parametric amplifiers etc. |
Collaborator Contribution | Oxford: Design, test and analysis. Paris Observatory: Fabrication |
Impact | Many publications. Devices potential use for many applications. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Development of millimetre and sub-millimetre detector technologies |
Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
Department | RAL Space |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration supported via series of STFC consortium grants |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-developing detector technologies for astronomy including local oscillator (RAL), bolometers (Cambridge) and mixers (Oxford). |
Impact | Publications |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Development of millimetre and sub-millimetre detector technologies |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration supported via series of STFC consortium grants |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-developing detector technologies for astronomy including local oscillator (RAL), bolometers (Cambridge) and mixers (Oxford). |
Impact | Publications |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | East Asia Observatories (EAO) |
Organisation | East Asian Observatory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Initiating collaborative works to develop heterodyne array for telescopes operated by EAO including James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, Sub-Millimetre Array, Greenland Telescope and potentially contributing to Event Horizon Telescope. |
Collaborator Contribution | Initiating collaborative works to develop heterodyne array for telescopes operated by EAO including James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, Sub-Millimetre Array, Greenland Telescope and potentially contributing to Event Horizon Telescope. |
Impact | No outcome yet. |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | East Asia Observatories (EAO) |
Organisation | National Astronomical Research Institute Of Thailand |
Country | Thailand |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Initiating collaborative works to develop heterodyne array for telescopes operated by EAO including James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, Sub-Millimetre Array, Greenland Telescope and potentially contributing to Event Horizon Telescope. |
Collaborator Contribution | Initiating collaborative works to develop heterodyne array for telescopes operated by EAO including James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, Sub-Millimetre Array, Greenland Telescope and potentially contributing to Event Horizon Telescope. |
Impact | No outcome yet. |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Receiver development for Seoul National University Radio Observatory (SRAO) |
Organisation | National Astronomical Research Institute Of Thailand |
Country | Thailand |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Initiating deploying some heterodyne mixers developed at University of Oxford to Seoul National University Radio Observatory (SRAO) for participation in the Event Horizon Telescope initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | NARIT could potentially design and fabricate mixer blocks and interface required to install the receiver to SRAO. SRAO will provide access to the telescope and commissioning. |
Impact | No outcome yet. |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Receiver development for Seoul National University Radio Observatory (SRAO) |
Organisation | Seoul National University |
Country | Korea, Republic of |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Initiating deploying some heterodyne mixers developed at University of Oxford to Seoul National University Radio Observatory (SRAO) for participation in the Event Horizon Telescope initiative. |
Collaborator Contribution | NARIT could potentially design and fabricate mixer blocks and interface required to install the receiver to SRAO. SRAO will provide access to the telescope and commissioning. |
Impact | No outcome yet. |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | UK-NARIT collaboration |
Organisation | National Astronomical Research Institute Of Thailand |
Country | Thailand |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Expertise in design, fabrication and test of superconducting quantum devices in millimetre wave, intellectual input in setting up a state-of-the-art millimetre lab in Thailand and procurement of key infrastructure. Note: This project commence on March 2020, unfortunately coincide with the begin of the pandemic lockdown, hence severely impacted the progress of the project. In particular, this collaboration is built on multiple bilateral visits to each institute for staff training, knowledge exchange and technical discussion. However, safe travels has not been made possible since the start of the project, therefore all interaction has to be conducted online, which slows the progress significantly, especially on the front of lab infrastructure preparation and build. |
Collaborator Contribution | Procurement of key instruments required to set up the millimetre laboratory. Helps in setting up the millimetre laboratory in NARIT, including sharing of mechanical and electronics drawing and schematics. Knowledge transfer and collaboration on superconducting devices designs, test methodology, measurement techniques and overall research and development aspects. From 2022, Synchrotron Light Research Institute of Thailand has joined our collaboration. This institute is equiped with UV and electron beam lithography machines. Our collaboration with this partner aims to help fabricating SIS mixer chips in Thailand a their institute. This is part of the human capcity building of the project. Being able to fabricate the SIS junctions and mixer chips in Thailand will help to speed up reseach in millimetre and sub-millimetre development in the country and also pave a way for other quantum-computer groups should they decided to implement SIS tunnel junction for their qbits. |
Impact | The progress of the project has been significantly affected by the pandemic lockdown, hence no outputs or outcomes resulted so far. Activities related to this program slowly starts to gain momentum around Summer 2021 when the laboratory and University are partially open for employees to enter the building and commence academic research works. Most of the research activities are conducted via online platform, as we are unable to meet face-to-face or perform bi-lateral travels due to the restrictions stemmed from the global pandemic. As a result to this, we had to readjust our research plan to suit the working condition, and this results in research output/outcome of this project being delay and being differ from the original planned activities in the proposal. Originally, research activities would be conducted mainly in NARIT with assistance from Oxford. Now, we have to conduct these online, and perform most of the knowledge transfer especially the design, test and measurement of superconducting device at Oxford, with partial involvement from NARIT personnel (online). The device and individual components will then be sent to NARIT or being duplicated at NARIT and by having NARIT scientist repeat the same experiment, we ensure that we fulfil our objective of training the Thai personnel to involve in state-of-the-art superconducting device R&D, as well as the know-how to performance these development with the newly built mm-laboratory at NARIT (with input from Oxford). Due to the delay by almost 18months of activities, it is inevitably that the expected outputs/outcomes will be delay beyond the period covered by this grant. Nevertheless, NARIT has agreed to continue the current collaboration until completion, and we expect we will report our finding in several publications end of this year or early next year. To achieve this purpose, since summer 2021, Oxford has been preparing the experimental works required and procuring consumables envisioned needed after the grant period, so that we can carry on performing this research activity together with NARIT without too high a financial burden. The colloboration with Synchrotron Light Research Institute of Thailand has been going well. We successfully made bi-layer of Niobium (Nb) ground layer and Aluminium insulator layer. However, the insulator layer was too thick at about 5-10 nanometre as compared to about 1-2 nanometre intended. The junction definition of 1 micrometre x 1 micrometre was also successfully carried out. The next step in 2023 will be to deposite a tri-layer of Nb-AlOx-Nb at the correct thicknesses. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UK-NARIT collaboration |
Organisation | Synchrotron Light Research Institute |
Country | Thailand |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Expertise in design, fabrication and test of superconducting quantum devices in millimetre wave, intellectual input in setting up a state-of-the-art millimetre lab in Thailand and procurement of key infrastructure. Note: This project commence on March 2020, unfortunately coincide with the begin of the pandemic lockdown, hence severely impacted the progress of the project. In particular, this collaboration is built on multiple bilateral visits to each institute for staff training, knowledge exchange and technical discussion. However, safe travels has not been made possible since the start of the project, therefore all interaction has to be conducted online, which slows the progress significantly, especially on the front of lab infrastructure preparation and build. |
Collaborator Contribution | Procurement of key instruments required to set up the millimetre laboratory. Helps in setting up the millimetre laboratory in NARIT, including sharing of mechanical and electronics drawing and schematics. Knowledge transfer and collaboration on superconducting devices designs, test methodology, measurement techniques and overall research and development aspects. From 2022, Synchrotron Light Research Institute of Thailand has joined our collaboration. This institute is equiped with UV and electron beam lithography machines. Our collaboration with this partner aims to help fabricating SIS mixer chips in Thailand a their institute. This is part of the human capcity building of the project. Being able to fabricate the SIS junctions and mixer chips in Thailand will help to speed up reseach in millimetre and sub-millimetre development in the country and also pave a way for other quantum-computer groups should they decided to implement SIS tunnel junction for their qbits. |
Impact | The progress of the project has been significantly affected by the pandemic lockdown, hence no outputs or outcomes resulted so far. Activities related to this program slowly starts to gain momentum around Summer 2021 when the laboratory and University are partially open for employees to enter the building and commence academic research works. Most of the research activities are conducted via online platform, as we are unable to meet face-to-face or perform bi-lateral travels due to the restrictions stemmed from the global pandemic. As a result to this, we had to readjust our research plan to suit the working condition, and this results in research output/outcome of this project being delay and being differ from the original planned activities in the proposal. Originally, research activities would be conducted mainly in NARIT with assistance from Oxford. Now, we have to conduct these online, and perform most of the knowledge transfer especially the design, test and measurement of superconducting device at Oxford, with partial involvement from NARIT personnel (online). The device and individual components will then be sent to NARIT or being duplicated at NARIT and by having NARIT scientist repeat the same experiment, we ensure that we fulfil our objective of training the Thai personnel to involve in state-of-the-art superconducting device R&D, as well as the know-how to performance these development with the newly built mm-laboratory at NARIT (with input from Oxford). Due to the delay by almost 18months of activities, it is inevitably that the expected outputs/outcomes will be delay beyond the period covered by this grant. Nevertheless, NARIT has agreed to continue the current collaboration until completion, and we expect we will report our finding in several publications end of this year or early next year. To achieve this purpose, since summer 2021, Oxford has been preparing the experimental works required and procuring consumables envisioned needed after the grant period, so that we can carry on performing this research activity together with NARIT without too high a financial burden. The colloboration with Synchrotron Light Research Institute of Thailand has been going well. We successfully made bi-layer of Niobium (Nb) ground layer and Aluminium insulator layer. However, the insulator layer was too thick at about 5-10 nanometre as compared to about 1-2 nanometre intended. The junction definition of 1 micrometre x 1 micrometre was also successfully carried out. The next step in 2023 will be to deposite a tri-layer of Nb-AlOx-Nb at the correct thicknesses. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | UK-NARIT collaboration |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in design, fabrication and test of superconducting quantum devices in millimetre wave, intellectual input in setting up a state-of-the-art millimetre lab in Thailand and procurement of key infrastructure. Note: This project commence on March 2020, unfortunately coincide with the begin of the pandemic lockdown, hence severely impacted the progress of the project. In particular, this collaboration is built on multiple bilateral visits to each institute for staff training, knowledge exchange and technical discussion. However, safe travels has not been made possible since the start of the project, therefore all interaction has to be conducted online, which slows the progress significantly, especially on the front of lab infrastructure preparation and build. |
Collaborator Contribution | Procurement of key instruments required to set up the millimetre laboratory. Helps in setting up the millimetre laboratory in NARIT, including sharing of mechanical and electronics drawing and schematics. Knowledge transfer and collaboration on superconducting devices designs, test methodology, measurement techniques and overall research and development aspects. From 2022, Synchrotron Light Research Institute of Thailand has joined our collaboration. This institute is equiped with UV and electron beam lithography machines. Our collaboration with this partner aims to help fabricating SIS mixer chips in Thailand a their institute. This is part of the human capcity building of the project. Being able to fabricate the SIS junctions and mixer chips in Thailand will help to speed up reseach in millimetre and sub-millimetre development in the country and also pave a way for other quantum-computer groups should they decided to implement SIS tunnel junction for their qbits. |
Impact | The progress of the project has been significantly affected by the pandemic lockdown, hence no outputs or outcomes resulted so far. Activities related to this program slowly starts to gain momentum around Summer 2021 when the laboratory and University are partially open for employees to enter the building and commence academic research works. Most of the research activities are conducted via online platform, as we are unable to meet face-to-face or perform bi-lateral travels due to the restrictions stemmed from the global pandemic. As a result to this, we had to readjust our research plan to suit the working condition, and this results in research output/outcome of this project being delay and being differ from the original planned activities in the proposal. Originally, research activities would be conducted mainly in NARIT with assistance from Oxford. Now, we have to conduct these online, and perform most of the knowledge transfer especially the design, test and measurement of superconducting device at Oxford, with partial involvement from NARIT personnel (online). The device and individual components will then be sent to NARIT or being duplicated at NARIT and by having NARIT scientist repeat the same experiment, we ensure that we fulfil our objective of training the Thai personnel to involve in state-of-the-art superconducting device R&D, as well as the know-how to performance these development with the newly built mm-laboratory at NARIT (with input from Oxford). Due to the delay by almost 18months of activities, it is inevitably that the expected outputs/outcomes will be delay beyond the period covered by this grant. Nevertheless, NARIT has agreed to continue the current collaboration until completion, and we expect we will report our finding in several publications end of this year or early next year. To achieve this purpose, since summer 2021, Oxford has been preparing the experimental works required and procuring consumables envisioned needed after the grant period, so that we can carry on performing this research activity together with NARIT without too high a financial burden. The colloboration with Synchrotron Light Research Institute of Thailand has been going well. We successfully made bi-layer of Niobium (Nb) ground layer and Aluminium insulator layer. However, the insulator layer was too thick at about 5-10 nanometre as compared to about 1-2 nanometre intended. The junction definition of 1 micrometre x 1 micrometre was also successfully carried out. The next step in 2023 will be to deposite a tri-layer of Nb-AlOx-Nb at the correct thicknesses. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Title | Finsynth |
Description | Software used to design unilateral finline antenna with ultra low return loss |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2006 |
Impact | Successfully deployed to design many SIS mixers. |
Title | Hornsynth |
Description | Software to design multiple flare-angled smooth-walled horn |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2007 |
Impact | Successfully develop several smooth-walled horns |
Title | QMix: A Python package for simulating the quasiparticle tunneling currents in SIS junctions |
Description | QMix is a software package for simulating the quasiparticle tunneling currents in Superconductor/Insulator/Superconductor (SIS) junctions. In radio astronomy, these junctions are used for heterodyne mixing at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. QMix can be used to simulate the behavior of SIS mixers, optimize their performance and investigate experimental results. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | Aid development of SIS mixers |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3355757 |
Description | General Public Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Many general outreach workshops/talks etc |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | General Public Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | General public outreach |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | General Public Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Numerous outreach activities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |