Terahertz heterodyne receiver components for future European space missions (TeraComp)
Research Project, 2010 – 2013

Sub-millimetre wave or terahertz heterodyne receivers are key instruments for many space applications. For example, they are required for monitoring of the earth’s atmosphere or detection of molecules that might be tracers of life on other planets or moons. However, key components of these systems are currently supplied from outside Europe and performance as well as mass and power requirements often prohibit the implementation. The TeraComp project aims at developing European industrial level capability to design and manufacture terahertz front-end electronics based on high frequency Schottky diodes, Heterostructure Barrier Varactor (HBV) diodes and mHEMT MMICs for space and other applications. The prototype components will be integrated into a compact 557 GHz heterodyne receiver and evaluated for space instrument applications. The front-end demonstrator consists of a low noise 557 GHz subharmonic Schottky diode mixer, a 275 GHz Heterostructure Barrier Varactor frequency tripler and a 92 GHz mHEMT power amplifiers and a 15 to 92 GHz 6x multiplier as part of the local oscillator chain. This development will significantly contribute to mass and power reduction and it will improve the performance of terahertz heterodyne receivers. In addition, the dependence on critical technologies and capabilities from outside Europe for future space applications will be reduced.

Participants

Jan Stake (contact)

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory

Vladimir Drakinskiy

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory

Peter Sobis

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory

Collaborations

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur

Munchen, Germany

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Köln, Germany

Goethe University Frankfurt

Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

Omnisys Instruments

Västra Frölunda, Sweden

Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

Lyngby, Denmark

Wasa Millimeter Wave AB

Göteborg, Sweden

Funding

European Commission (EC)

Project ID: EC/FP7/242424
Funding Chalmers participation during 2010–2013

Related Areas of Advance and Infrastructure

Information and Communication Technology

Areas of Advance

Kollberg Laboratory

Infrastructure

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Driving Forces

Nanofabrication Laboratory

Infrastructure

More information

Latest update

2021-03-31