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Low noise amplifier for radio astronomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2013

David M.P. Smith ,
Laurens Bakker ,
Roel H. Witvers ,
Bert E.M. Woestenburg  and
Keith D. Palmer
David M.P. Smith*
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa. Phone: + 31 521 595 152
Laurens Bakker
Affiliation:
ASTRON, Postbus 2, 7990 AA, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
Roel H. Witvers
Affiliation:
ASTRON, Postbus 2, 7990 AA, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
Bert E.M. Woestenburg
Affiliation:
ASTRON, Postbus 2, 7990 AA, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
Keith D. Palmer
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa. Phone: + 31 521 595 152
*
Corresponding author: D. M. P. Smith Email: smith@astron.nl
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Abstract

A compact, microstrip, two-stage, room temperature, single-ended low noise amplifier (LNA) is designed using commercial components for Aperture Tile in Focus (APERTIF), a square kilometre array (SKA) pathfinder project. Various techniques are investigated to insert inductance between the source pad of the package and the ground plane of the printed circuit board (PCB), with the chosen design able to do this using standard manufacturing techniques. The desired noise temperature of 25 K (noise figure (NF) of 0.36 dB) is met over the 1.0–1.8 GHz band, with an input return loss better than 10 dB.

Keywords

Low noise and communication receiversModelingSimulationCharacterizations of devices and circuits
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , August 2013 , pp. 453 - 461
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2013 

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References

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