A 24–48 GHz cascode HEMT mixer with DC to 15 GHz IF bandwidth for astronomy radio telescope

This paper presents a wide IF bandwidth (dc15 GHz) mixer with 27 to 48 GHz RF bandwidth using cascode device technique. The mixer is implemented in 0.15-µm GaAs PHEMT process. The measured 3-dB IF bandwidth is from dc to 15 GHz and RF bandwidth is from 27 to 48 GHz. This mixer achieves a measured conversion gain of 0 dB and isolation of 23 dB. This is the first demonstration of wide IF bandwidth mixers using GaAs cascode HEMT devices.