SPACE-QUALIFIED SUBMILLIMETER RADIOMETER

THIS RESEARCH DEVELOPS A SPECTROMETER FRONTEND FOR USE AT 557 GHZ (THE 1[10] - 1[01] TRANSITION OF WATER VAPOR). DURING PHASE I, THE DESIGN IS RESEARCHED; A COMPLETE SPECTROMETER FRONTEND IS FABRICATED AND TESTED DURING PHASE II. THE MAJOR COMPONENTS DEVELOPED INCLUDE: A SOLID-STATE LOCAL OSCILLATOR EMPLOYING MULTIPLIERS TO PRODUCE 1-2 MW OF POWER AT 560 GHZ, AN ULTRA LOW NOISE WAVEGUIDE MIXER WHICH REQUIRES MINIMAL LOCAL-OSCILLATOR POWER (2 MW) AND WHICH IS CAPABLE OF OPERATION BETWEEN 300 K AND 20 K, AND THE QUASIOPTICAL SUBSYSTEM REQUIRED FOR SIGNAL PROCESSING BEFORE HETERODYNING. A LINE OF MULTIPLIERS THROUGHOUT THE NEAR-MILLIMETER RANGE ARE TO BE OPTIMIZED AND RUGGEDIZEDFOR USE AS PUMPS FOR A FINAL DOUBLER TO 560 GHZ. THE RESULTING TRIPLERS AND DOUBLERS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE LOCAL-OSCILLATOR POWER FOR A VARIETY OF SATELLITE-BORNE RECEIVERS THROUGHOUT THE NEAR-MILLIMETER AND SUBMILLIMETER SPECTRUM. THE MIXERS AND QUASIOPTICAL COMPONENTS TO BE DEVELOPED LIKEWISE ARE EXTENSION OF COMPONENTS IN EXISTENCE.THE SPACE-QUALIFIED COMPONENTS WILL BE NEEDED TO CONSTRUCT RADIOMETERS AND COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVERS FOR USE ABOVE THE ATMOSPHERE.