A 640 GHz MMIC-based sideband-separating receiver for atmospheric science

A MMIC-based sideband-separating receiver operating 640 GHz is presented. The MMICs are characterized at room temperature and 30 K and the noise temperature is reduced by a factor of 6. The amplifiers are then integrated with a single-sideband receiver which uses discretely packaged MMIC mixers. Single-sideband noise temperatures of less than 800 K are measured from 620 to 660 GHz with sideband rejection ratios of greater than 8 dB.