Open AccessHigh‐performance microstrip directional coupler for radio‐astronomical receivers at cryogenic temperature
Author(s) -
Valente G.,
Montisci G.,
Mariotti S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
electronics letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.375
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1350-911X
pISSN - 0013-5194
DOI - 10.1049/el.2014.0078
Subject(s) - directivity , cryostat , power dividers and directional couplers , hybrid coupler , microstrip , microwave , radio telescope , microwave transmission , optics , physics , electrical engineering , electronic engineering , engineering , telecommunications , astronomy , superconductivity , antenna (radio) , quantum mechanics
A microstrip directional coupler with high directivity is proposed for microwave applications requiring a weak coupling factor. This component has been used in the L‐band radio‐astronomical receiver of the Sardinia radio telescope. To improve the performance of the receiver, the operating temperature is lowered to 20 K. An in‐house cryostat has been manufactured to perform measurements on the directional coupler, and very good agreement with the design specification is achieved.