Multi-beam local oscillator for a 100-pixel heterodyne array receiver at THz

Abstract

Generating multiple local oscillator beams is one challenge to develop large heterodyne receiver arrays (~100 pixels), which allow astronomical instrumentations mapping more area within limited space mission lifetime. Here, We combine a reflective Fourier grating with an unidirectional antenna coupled 3rd-order distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade laser (QCL) to generate 81 beams at 3.86 THz. We have measured the beam pattern of the diffracted 81 beams, which agrees well with a simulated result from COMSOL Multiphysics with respect to the angular distribution and power distribution among the 81 beams. The diffraction efficiency of the Fourier grating is derived to be 94±3%, which is very close to the simulated result of 97%. For an array of equal superconducting hot electron bolometer mixers, 64 out of 81 beams can pump the HEB mixers with similar power, resulting in receiver sensitivities within 10%. Such a combination of a Fourier grating and a QCL can create an LO with 100 beams or more, enabling a new generation of large heterodyne arrays for astronomical instrumentation. This paper is essentially a copy of our paper in Optics Express.

Authors 9

1. Yuner Gan Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   University of Groningen · Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

   Univ. of Groningen (Netherlands)

2. B. Mirzaei Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands · Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

   Technische Univ. Delft (Netherlands)

3. Jose R. G. Silva Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   University of Groningen · Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

   Univ. of Groningen (Netherlands)

4. Ali Khalatpour

   Massachusetts Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States)

5. Qing Hu

   Massachusetts Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States)

6. Christopher Groppi

   Arizona State University

   Affiliation as printed

   Arizona State Univ. (United States)

7. José V. Siles

   Jet Propulsion Laboratory

   Affiliation as printed

   Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)

8. Floris F. S. van der Tak Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   University of Groningen · Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

   Univ. of Groningen (Netherlands)

9. J. R. Gao Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands · Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

   Technische Univ. Delft (Netherlands)