Superconductor SQIF Antenna for V/UHF Receivers

The overall goal of this project is to develop and demonstrate a sensitive, low noise, significantly lower SWaP antenna integrated with low-noise amplifier (LNA) using the superconducting quantum interference filter (SQIF) technology. This antenna will be capable of meeting all requirements for DD(X) class ships for ESM/SIGINT applications in V/UHF frequency bands. The target linear dynamic range is 140 dB. In order to achieve this, HYPRES will develop and demonstrate a SQIF circuit for sensing RF signal and its subsequent low-noise temperature amplification. This circuit will be first developed and perfected using HYPRES"s matured Niobium fabrication technology and then transferred to the YBCO implementation. In order to achieve performance goals, a special flux focusing antenna structure will be designed, implemented and integrated with the SQIF magnetic sensor. Detailed system analysis of antenna configuration will be performed to meet Navy IO/SIGINT V/UHF needs. Finally the SQIF antenna will be tested and evaluated using the NASA antenna range.