Radiometric measurement of atmospheric absorption at 600 Gc/s

Atmospheric absorption in the 600-Gc/s region was measured throughout the actual atmosphere by means of a DICKE-type superheterodyne radiometer receiver using second harmonic mixing. The average measured value of horizontal attenuation was approximately 34 dB/km/g/m³. The variation of water vapor absorption with respect to water vapor density was also indicated in the measured results. The minimum detectable temperature difference (ΔT)MINwas obtained by calculating the rms value of output deflection and the use of the calibration curve for the radiometer. The best value achieved was 5.2°K. From this result, the radiometer receiver noise figure and the mixer conversion loss were able to be determined indirectly. The results were 33.2 dB and 26.4 dB, respectively. A thermal calibrator was used to adjust and calibrate the radiometer, and as a source of radiation for the measurement program.