Title :
Miniature low power submillimeter-wave spectrometer for detection of water in the Solar System
Author :
Boric-Lubecke, O. ; Denning, R.F. ; Janssen, M.A. ; Frerking, M.A.
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
Mass and power for the next generation of NASA´s heterodyne spectrometers must be greatly reduced to satisfy the constraints of future small-spacecraft missions. We report on a 220 GHz Schottky-diode receiver, which requires less than 4.8 W, and has a mass of less than 1.5 kg-more than a factor of ten reduction in mass and power compared to current instruments. This significant savings was achieved through minimizing the number of receiver components, without compromising on the functionality necessary for a surface based Mars atmospheric sounding instrument.
Keywords :
Mars; Schottky diode mixers; planetary atmospheres; radioastronomical techniques; radiofrequency spectrometers; submillimetre astronomy; submillimetre wave mixers; submillimetre wave receivers; submillimetre wave spectroscopy; 1.5 kg; 220 GHz; 4.8 W; 557 GHz; NASA heterodyne spectrometers; Schottky-diode receiver; Solar System; heterodyne receiver; low power submillimeter-wave spectrometer; mass reduction; power reduction; receiver component minimization; small-spacecraft missions; surface based Mars atmospheric sounding instrument; water detection; Atmospheric waves; Chemical technology; Frequency; Instruments; Mars; Mass spectroscopy; Prototypes; Radiometers; Solar system; Submillimeter wave technology;
Conference_Titel :
Microwave Symposium Digest, 1997., IEEE MTT-S International
Conference_Location :
Denver, CO, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3814-6
DOI :
10.1109/MWSYM.1997.602857
