Low-Noise Systems in the Deep Space Network
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Low-Noise Systems in the Deep Space Network Edited by Macgregor S. Reid Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology DEEP SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION SERIES DEEP SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION SERIES Issued by the Deep Space Communications and Navigation Systems Center of Excellence Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Joseph H. Yuen, Editor-in-Chief Published Titles in this Series Radiometric Tracking Techniques for Deep-Space Navigation Catherine L. Thornton and James S. Border Formulation for Observed and Computed Values of Deep Space Network Data Types for Navigation Theodore D. Moyer Bandwidth-Efficient Digital Modulation with Application to Deep-Space Communications Marvin K. Simon Large Antennas of the Deep Space Network William A. Imbriale Antenna Arraying Techniques in the Deep Space Network David H. Rogstad, Alexander Mileant, and Timothy T. Pham Radio Occultations Using Earth Satellites: A Wave Theory Treatment William G. Melbourne Deep Space Optical Communications Hamid Hemmati, Editor Spaceborne Antennas for Planetary Exploration William A. Imbriale, Editor Autonomous Software-Defined Radio Receivers for Deep Space Applications Jon Hamkins and Marvin K. Simon, Editors Low-Noise Systems in the Deep Space Network Macgregor S. Reid, Editor Low-Noise Systems in the Deep Space Network Edited by Macgregor S. Reid Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology DEEP SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION SERIES Low-Noise Systems in the Deep Space Network February 2008 The research described in this publication was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement by the United States Government or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Table of Contents Foreword.................................................................................................................xi Preface ................................................................................................................. xiii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................xvii Contributors..........................................................................................................xix Chapter 1: Introduction..................................................................................1 by Macgregor S. Reid References..........................................................................................................10 Chapter 2: System Noise Concepts with DSN Applications ...........13 by Charles T. Stelzried, Arthur J. Freiley, and Macgregor S. Reid 2.1 Introduction..............................................................................................13 2.2 Noise Temperature Concepts ............................................................18 2.2.1 Thermal Noise ...............................................................................18 2.2.2 System Operating Noise Temperature .........................................19 2.2.3 Planck’s Radiation Law Noise Power Reduction........................20 2.2.4 Translating Noise Temperature Reference Locations.................24 2.2.5 Noise Temperature and Loss Contributions ................................26 2.2.6 Receiver Noise Temperature and Noise Figure...........................27 2.3 Antennas...................................................................................................27 2.3.1 Antenna Noise Temperature .........................................................27 2.3.2 DSN Antennas ...............................................................................29 2.3.3 Antenna External Noise Sources ..................................................30 2.4 Low-Noise Amplifiers ...........................................................................40 2.4.1 Receiver Effective Noise Temperature ........................................40 2.4.2 Noise Temperature of Cascaded Amplifiers................................40 2.5 Receiving Systems................................................................................42 2.5.1 Receiving System Figure of Merit ...............................................42 2.5.2 Receiving System Operational Noise Temperature ....................43 2.6 Measurements.........................................................................................60 2.6.1 Y-Factor Noise Temperature Calibrations....................................60 2.6.2 Attenuation.....................................................................................65 v vi 2.6.3 Receiving System Nonlinearity ....................................................66 2.6.4 Receiving System Mini-cals .........................................................71 2.7 Radiometers in the DSN ......................................................................72 2.7.1 Introduction....................................................................................72 2.7.2 Total Power Radiometers..............................................................72 2.7.3 Dicke Radiometers ........................................................................74 2.7.4 Noise-Adding Radiometers...........................................................75 2.7.5 Radiometer Stability Performance ...............................................80 2.8 Status and Future ..................................................................................81 Notation and Terms .........................................................................................84 References..........................................................................................................89 Chapter 3: Ruby Masers ..............................................................................95 by Robert C. Clauss and James S. Shell 3.1 Introduction..............................................................................................95 3.2 Ruby Properties......................................................................................98 3.3 Spin Resonance, the Applied Magnetic Field, Ruby Orientation, the Low-Temperature Requirement, and Excitation................................................................................................100 3.4 Spin-Lattice Relaxation Time, Inversion Ratios, Transition Probabilities, the Filling Factor, and Magnetic Q......................103 3.5 Ruby Maser Noise Temperatures ...................................................109 3.6 Ruby Masers as Noise Temperature Standards........................116 3.7 Immunity from Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) ................119 3.8 Early DSN Cavity Masers...................................................................120 3.9 Comb-Type Traveling-Wave Masers..............................................122 3.10 Reflected-Wave Masers .....................................................................137 3.11 Ka-Band and the Return to Cavity Masers..................................140 3.12 Analysis of Maser Designs ...............................................................143 References........................................................................................................154 Chapter 4: Cryogenic Refrigeration Systems.....................................159 by Robert C. Clauss 4.1 Introduction............................................................................................159 Table of Contents vii 4.2 Advantages of Using Cryogenic Cooling ....................................161 4.3 Open-Cycle Refrigeration..................................................................164 4.4 Heat Transfer .........................................................................................170 4.5 Antenna-Mounted Operation............................................................174 4.6 Closed-Cycle Helium Refrigerators ...............................................177 4.7 Conclusion .............................................................................................192 References........................................................................................................192 Chapter 5: HEMT Low-Noise Amplifiers...............................................195 by J. Javier Bautista 5.1 Introduction—Semiconductor Conductivity...............................195 5.1.1 Charge Carrier and Energy Band Gap........................................196 5.1.2 Charge Carrier Transport Properties ..........................................197 5.1.3 Donor and Acceptor Impurities ..................................................199 5.1.4 Heterojunction—HEMT versus MESFET.................................200 5.2 The Many Acronym-ed Device (MAD)—A Brief HEMT History.........................................................................................201 5.2.1 HEMTs in the Deep Space Network and Radio Astronomy— Voyager at Neptune.....................................................................201 5.2.2 InP HEMT LNAs in the Deep Space Network..........................202 5.3 HEMT Growth Technology................................................................203 5.3.1 Molecular Beam Epitaxy ............................................................203 5.3.2 Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD)...........204 5.4