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Ultra-compact Sub-mm Heterodyne Focal Plane Array Frontends for Radio Astronomical Observation

Research Project

Project/Area Number 23K20871
Project/Area Number (Other) 21H01134 (2021-2023)
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund (2024)
Single-year Grants (2021-2023)
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 16010:Astronomy-related
Research InstitutionNational Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Principal Investigator

SHAN Wenlei  国立天文台, 先端技術センター, 准教授 (60792570)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 江崎 翔平  国立天文台, 先端技術センター, 研究技師 (40794508)
田村 友範  国立天文台, 先端技術センター, 技師 (90897828)
Project Period (FY) 2021-04-01 – 2026-03-31
Project Status Granted (Fiscal Year 2024)
Budget Amount *help
¥17,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,930,000)
Fiscal Year 2025: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000)
Fiscal Year 2024: ¥2,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥630,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥3,510,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥810,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥2,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥690,000)
KeywordsFocal plane array / SIS mixer / Radio astronomy / planar OMT / Focal Plane Array / Heterodyne / SIS Mixer / Radio Astronomy
Outline of Research at the Start

This research is relevant to a new technological approach to constructing sub-mm heterodyne focal plane arrays for radioastronomical observation. This approach is characterized by the adoption of superconducting monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and hybrid planar integration (HPI) schemes.

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In FY 2023, we concentrated on investigating losses in superconducting thin-film transmission lines, which serve as the backbone of MMIC SIS mixers currently under development. This study addresses the fundamental differences between MMIC SIS mixers and traditional SIS mixers based on quartz substrates.

In silicon-based MMIC SIS mixers, longer superconducting transmission lines (around five wavelengths) are necessary to accommodate more complex circuits, including orthomode transducers and sideband separation circuits. This introduces transmission loss as a significant factor, potentially degrading the sensitivity of SIS mixers.Despite the importance of transmission loss in superconducting transmission lines operating at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths, experimental studies are limited due to technical challenges. To address this gap, we developed two methods for assessing the superconducting thin-film transmission lines:On-Chip Detectors: This method integrates detectors directly onto the chip, enabling in-situ measurements;Network Analyzer: This approach utilizes a network analyzer to measure the transmission loss across the superconducting lines.Both methods have yielded significant results, contributing valuable insights into the superconducting transmission lines' performance. These findings are essential to achieving the project's research goals and advancing the development of MMIC SIS mixers.

Current Status of Research Progress
Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

The research plan for the fiscal year 2023 focused on advancing MMIC technology through four key tasks:
(1)Transmission Loss Investigation: It was fully fulfilled with significant progress made in transmission measurement methods for superconducting microstrips and coplanar waveguides at 2 mm wavelengths and liquid helium temperatures. The following major results were obtained: The measured transmission loss cannot be attributed solely to conduction loss produced by normal electrons;The dielectric loss in amorphous materials is significantly higher than in bulk materials, likely due to two-level system loss;Radiation loss can become significant when the size of the coplanar waveguide exceeds a small fraction of the wavelength;Magnetic fields applied perpendicularly to superconducting thin films can lead to notable loss, explained by vortex flow.
(2)MMIC Fabrication Process: We conducted a series of tests to optimize the photolithography system, enhancing control over line widths to dimensions around 1 micrometer.(3)Crosstalk Mitigation: We redesigned the mixer holder to minimize the stimulation of undesired modes causing crosstalk. An existing mixer holder has been modified and is awaiting experimental confirmation.(4)Sideband Separation Demonstration: This task intended to complete the demonstration of the sideband separation configuration with silicon-based MMICs at ALMA Band 4. However, due to a focus on Task 1, this work was suspended and will be reassigned in FY 2024.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

The following studies will be performed in the 2024 fiscal year:(1) Conclude the results obtained in the investigation of the transmission loss of planar superconducting transmission lines by publishing research papers. Reconsider the design and fabrication process of MMIC SIS mixer based on these results and try to improve the sensitivity. (2) Continue studies on the fabrication process of MMICs to improve the fabrication yield and the quality of SIS junctions in terms of the nonlinearity of the IV characteristics. (3) Finish the experimental verification of the alternative method to TSVs to solve the crosstalk problem. (4) Finally, complete the demonstration of sideband separation configuration with silicon-based MMICs at ALMA Band 4.

Report

(3 results)
  • 2023 Annual Research Report
  • 2022 Annual Research Report
  • 2021 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (23 results)

All 2024 2023 2022 2021

All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 3 results) Presentation (20 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 11 results)

  • [Journal Article] Silicon Membrane-Based Waveguide-to-Superconducting CPW Transitions at 2 mm Band2023

    • Author(s)
      Masukura Akihiro、Shan Wenlei、Ezaki Shohei、Kojima Takafumi、Nakajima Taku、Mizuno Akira
    • Journal Title

      IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

      Volume: 33 Issue: 5 Pages: 1-5

    • DOI

      10.1109/tasc.2023.3267331

    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Cryogenic NbTiN thin film resistors fabricated by using reactive magnetron sputtering2022

    • Author(s)
      Shan Wenlei、Ezaki Shohei
    • Journal Title

      Thin Solid Films

      Volume: 763 Pages: 139575-139575

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.tsf.2022.139575

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Modeling current-voltage characteristics of DC reactive magnetron discharges and its application to superconducting NbTiN film deposition2021

    • Author(s)
      W. Shan and S. Ezaki
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Applied Physics

      Volume: 130 Issue: 8 Pages: 083302-083302

    • DOI

      10.1063/5.0059507

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] A New-generation Multi-beam Superconducting Receiver Supporting Polarization Observation2024

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan, Shohei Ezaki
    • Organizer
      Magnetic Fields from Clouds to Stars (Bfields-2024)
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Measured Transmission Losses of Superconducting CPW and MS at 2mm Wavelength2024

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan, Shohei Ezaki
    • Organizer
      日本天文学会春季年会
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Inconstant Output Noise of SIS Mixers and Implication in Input Noise Measurement2023

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan
    • Organizer
      16th European Conference on Applied Superconductivity (EUCAS 2023)
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Broad-band silicon membrane-based waveguide-to-superconducting CPW transition and applications in SIS receivers2023

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan, Shohei Ezaki
    • Organizer
      15th International Workshop on High Temperature Superconductors in High Frequency Fields (HTSHFF 2023)
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] A New-generation Multi-beam Superconducting Receiver for Astronomical Observation2023

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan, Shohei Ezaki, Takafumi Kojima, and Yoshinori Uzawa
    • Organizer
      18th International Superconductive Electronics Conference (ISEC 2023)
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] On-chip Crosstalk in MMIC SIS Mixers and Possible Solutions2023

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan, Shohei Ezaki
    • Organizer
      24th East Asia Submillimeter-wave Receiver Technology Workshop
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Development of Compact Superconducting Heterodyne Multibeam Receivers2023

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan, Shohei Ezaki, Keiko Kaneko, Akihira Miyachi, Haoran Kang, Alvaro Gonzalez, Takafumi Kojima, Yoshinori Uzawa, Takashi Noguchi, Akihiro Masukura, Taku Nakajima, and Akira Mizuno
    • Organizer
      「第24回ミリ波サブミリ波受信機ワークショップ」と「2023年度理研-NICT合同テラヘルツワークショップ」
    • Related Report
      2023 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Experimental Study of Silicon Membrane Based Superconducting Waveguide-to- CPW Transitions2023

    • Author(s)
      Akihiro Masukura, Wenlei Shan, Shohei Ezaki, Takafumi Kojima, Tac Nakajima, and Akira Mizuno
    • Organizer
      日本天文学会春季年会
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Measurement of Transmission Losses of Superconducting Coplanar Waveguide and Microstrip Line with On-chip Resonators at 2 mm Wavelength2022

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan and Shohei Ezaki
    • Organizer
      32th International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Silicon Membrane Based Superconducting Waveguide-to-CPW Transitions at 2 mm Band2022

    • Author(s)
      Akihiro Masukura, Wenlei Shan, Shohei Ezaki, Takafumi Kojima, Tac Nakajima, and Akira Mizuno
    • Organizer
      Development of Through-Substrate Via Process for Silicon-Based Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits SIS Mixer
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Development of Through-Substrate Via Process for Silicon-Based Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits SIS Mixer2022

    • Author(s)
      Shohei Ezaki, and Wenlei Shan
    • Organizer
      Development of Through-Substrate Via Process for Silicon-Based Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits SIS Mixer
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Difficulties in RF Noise Measurement of SIS Mixers2022

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan
    • Organizer
      23rd East Asia Submillimeter-Wave Receiver Technology Workshop jointly with the Riken-NICT Joint Workshop on Terahertz Technology
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Noise Breakdown of Dual-polarization Balanced MMIC SIS Mixer at 2mm Wavelength2022

    • Author(s)
      Shan, W., Ezaki, S.
    • Organizer
      日本天文学会秋季年会
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Measurement of Transmission Loss of a Superconducting Transmission Line with On-chip Resonators at 2mm Wavelength2022

    • Author(s)
      W. Shan, and S. Ezaki
    • Organizer
      日本天文学会2022年春季年会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 広帯域平面統合型SIS受信機のLO系開発に向けたテストモジュールの設計2022

    • Author(s)
      増倉明寛, W. Shan, 小嶋崇文, 中島拓, 水野亮, 溝口玄真
    • Organizer
      日本天文学会2022年春季年会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 反応性マグネトロンスパッタリング法により作製した超伝導MMIC用低温NbTiN薄膜抵抗器2022

    • Author(s)
      単文磊, 江崎翔平
    • Organizer
      第69回応用物理学会春季学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] What is the loss of a superconducting thin-film line at 2 mm wavelength?2022

    • Author(s)
      W. Shan
    • Organizer
      第22回ミリ波サブミリ波受信機ワークショップ
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Demonstration of a Millimeter-wave Multibeam Receiver Implemented with Superconducting MMICs2021

    • Author(s)
      Wenlei Shan
    • Organizer
      ALMA Front End Development Conference
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 4K Cryogenic Nitrogen-deficient NbTiN Thin Film Resistors Fabricated by Using Reactive Sputtering2021

    • Author(s)
      W. Shan, A. Miyachi, S. Ezaki, and K. Makise
    • Organizer
      22nd East Asia Sub-millimeter-wave Receiver Technology Workshop
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Progress in Device Fabrication at Microfabrication Cleanroom in NAOJ2021

    • Author(s)
      W. Shan, S. Ezaki, A. Miyachi, T. Tamura, K. Makise, T. Kojima, and Y. Uzawa
    • Organizer
      日本天文学会2021年秋季年会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2021-04-28   Modified: 2024-12-25  

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