Ultra-Low-Noise Cryogenic HEMT Amplifiers for HEP Applications

Cryogenic HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor) LNAs (Low Noise Amplifiers) play a crucial role in the detection of dark matter and the analysis of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) for three key reasons: Ultra-Low Noise: The primary characteristic of HEMT LNAs is their ultra-low noise figure. When studying faint signals, such as those from dark matter interactions or the CMB, it's vital to have as little noise as possible in the detection equipment. Even a slight increase in noise can obscure these already subtle signals. High Sensitivity: The low noise of HEMT LNAs translates into high sensitivity. This is essential when detecting weak signals that originate from the early universe or potential dark matter interactions. Cooling Abilities: HEMT LNAs can operate at cryogenic temperatures. Cooling electronic components down to cryogenic temperatures further reduces noise. Given that dark matter detection and CMB observations require extremely cold instruments to minimize thermal noise, HEMT LNAs are well-suited for these applications. This project will develop three state-of-the-art ultra-low-noise cryogenic HEMT Amplifiers (High Electron Mobility Transistor Low Noise Amplifiers) for High Energy Physics (HEP) applications. Phase-1 will design three fabrication ready radio frequency integrated circuit low noise amplifiers (RFIC-LNAs) with industry leading noise temperatures of less than 0.7 K ľ this is a factor of x2 better than the leading incumbent solutions. The ultra-low-noise HEMT amplifiers that this project will produce will advance the fields of dark matter and cosmic microwave background detection experiments. Various High- Energy Physics research groups, government entities, and commercial companies stand to benefit from the technical advancements of this projectĺs HEMT amplifiers. Beyond the scientific applications, the low noise amplifiers in this project hold immense potential for commercial uses, particularly in the emerging field of quantum computing. As quantum computers continue to evolve and mature, they are poised to help solve some of the planet's most pressing environmental challenges, providing innovative solutions and helping to shape a sustainable future.