Title :
MMICs and Remote Sensing Science Instruments - A Technology Success Story
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
Developments in GaAs and InP transistor technology has had a large impact on science. With low noise and high frequency performance, these devices have revolutionized radio astronomy and Earth science, and changed the way that space science missions are designed and implemented. MMIC integration has shortened mission development times and enabling missions to be efficiently implemented in a cost-constrained environment. MMICs have also enabled a new generation of receiver arrays, creating a paradigm shift in experimental design. Some of this history will be discussed, citing specific examples of technology insertion and the impact on science.
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; MMIC; gallium arsenide; indium compounds; microwave transistors; radioastronomy; remote sensing; Earth science; GaAs; InP; MMIC integration; receiver array generation; remote sensing science instruments; revolutionized radio astronomy; space science missions; technology success story; transistor technology; MMICs; Microwave amplifiers; Microwave measurements; Microwave radiometry; Radiometers; Receivers;
Conference_Titel :
Compound Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Symposium (CSICS), 2012 IEEE
Conference_Location :
La Jolla, CA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4673-0928-8
DOI :
10.1109/CSICS.2012.6340096
