Enabling High Frequency Device Characterisation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Radio receivers which operate at wavelengths around 1 millimetre are essential for the study of the cold gas and dust out of which stars form. To minimise the noise of the receivers, they operate at cryogenic temperatures. This project will allow the purchase of laboratory equipment to test new and improved designs of the key components of these receivers. These new devices will improve the performance of receivers, making observations with telescope much more efficient.
Planned Impact
The equipment requested here will enable the development of improved low noise amplifiers and other devices operating at frequencies up to 260 GHz and beyond. These will be used in the development improved receiver systems for radio telescopes, benefiting the UK and global astronomical community. This work will also benefit commercial manufacturers of devices by allowing us to work with them to characterise their devices and processes, helping them improve their design and production processes. The use of these test facility by students and PDRAs will help train them in the experimental techniques essential for developing and exploiting high frequency devices both in academia and industry. This also true for our collaborators in our range of Newton and GCRF collaborations where we are assisting in the training from experimentalists and engineers in a range of high precision techniques at THz frequencies, helping their countries to develop technological background in these areas which can form the basis for significant economic advancement.
Organisations
Publications
Yagoubov P
(2020)
Wideband 67-116 GHz receiver development for ALMA Band 2
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Colín-Beltrán E
(2020)
CHARM: a room-temperature 345GHz receiver for the Large Millimeter Telescope
Mroczkowski Tony
(2019)
Wide Bandwidth Considerations for ALMA Band 2
in arXiv e-prints
Yagoubov P.
(2018)
Wideband 67-116 GHz cryogenic receiver development for ALMA Band 2
in arXiv e-prints
Description | This grant provided funding to extend the capabilities of our laboratory to measure and test microwave devices at new, higher frequencies. |
Exploitation Route | The new capabilities of our laboratory can be used to test devices over a new frequency range and so open up a new range of research opportunities. The outcomes have enable us to work in collaboration with STFC RAL to win a €3 million contract to supply a new imaging receiver system for the Italian INAF Sardinia Radio Telescope. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Environment |
Description | (ECOGAL) - Understanding our Galactic ecosystem: From the disk of the Milky Way to the formation sites of stars and planets |
Amount | € 12,659,178 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 855130 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 05/2020 |
End | 04/2026 |
Description | Anglo-Irish Technology Development - Development of millimetre optics components for ALMA |
Amount | £61,619 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/V006061/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2020 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | CARUSO Focal Plane Array for the Sardina Radio Telescope |
Amount | £2,500,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Institute for Astrophysics |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Italy |
Start | 10/2020 |
End | 02/2022 |
Description | ESO ALMA Development Funds - Pre-production Band 2 LNAs |
Amount | £280,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Southern Observatory (ESO) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Germany |
Start | 04/2021 |
End | 07/2022 |
Description | RAAIR: mm wavelength RF Technology Development |
Amount | £1,000,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RAAIR |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2019 |
End | 09/2022 |