High-Performance Smooth-Walled Horn Antennas for THz Frequency Range: Design and Evaluation | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

High-Performance Smooth-Walled Horn Antennas for THz Frequency Range: Design and Evaluation


Abstract:

Traditionally, corrugated conical horn antennas have been the main choice for use in astronomical receivers in the range of millimeter and submillimeter waves. They prese...Show More

Abstract:

Traditionally, corrugated conical horn antennas have been the main choice for use in astronomical receivers in the range of millimeter and submillimeter waves. They present low cross-polar level and high coupling efficiency into the fundamental Gaussian mode. However, this type of antenna is difficult to manufacture, inevitably increasing its price and extending the production process. In this article, we present two kinds of feed horn antennas, aimed for use in a frequency range equivalent to atacama large millimeter/submillimeter array (ALMA) Band 6 (211-275 GHz),which can be fabricated in a much simpler way with the conventional machining tools. Specifically, we present the design and performance comparison of smooth-walled spline-profile horns in two geometries, diagonal, and conical. Optimization of the designs has been made by means of an algorithm that allowed us to obtain models whose electrical and mechanical characteristics make them competitive when compared with corrugated horns. In particular, they are 40% shorter than the conventional corrugated horns suited for this band, representing an advantage given the stringent space constraints of most astronomical receivers. We also demonstrate that they can be coupled efficiently to an astronomical-grade optical system, using ALMA Band-6 receiver as an example. Furthermore, we have constructed the diagonal horn and characterized it thoroughly. Experimental results of the radiation pattern at room temperature show a good cross-polar performance with levels below -20 dB and Gaussicity above 96%. Our calculations show a good antenna-efficiency level with losses less than 1%. All these properties demonstrate the feasibility of this type of horns to become the main option at the time of choosing a feed system for cutting-edge astronomical applications.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology ( Volume: 9, Issue: 6, November 2019)
Page(s): 587 - 597
Date of Publication: 02 September 2019

ISSN Information:

Funding Agency:

Author image of Daniel Arturo Montofré
Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Daniel Arturo Montofré received the B.Sc. degree in physics engineering from the Universidad Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2014. He is currently working toward the double Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and astronomy with the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, and the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, respectively.
His research interests include the development of horn antennas for millimeter/sub...Show More
Daniel Arturo Montofré received the B.Sc. degree in physics engineering from the Universidad Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2014. He is currently working toward the double Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and astronomy with the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, and the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, respectively.
His research interests include the development of horn antennas for millimeter/sub...View more
Author image of Rocio Molina
Millimeter Wave Laboratory and the Department of Astronomy, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Rocio Molina received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Her M.Sc. thesis topic was the design of optics for heterodyne cameras in millimeter waves.
Since 2014, she has been an Active Member with the Millimeter Wave Laboratory, Astronomy Department, University of Chile, where she has been mainly involved with the design of an...Show More
Rocio Molina received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Her M.Sc. thesis topic was the design of optics for heterodyne cameras in millimeter waves.
Since 2014, she has been an Active Member with the Millimeter Wave Laboratory, Astronomy Department, University of Chile, where she has been mainly involved with the design of an...View more
Author image of Andrey Khudchenko
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Andrey Khudchenko received the M.S. degree in applied physics and mathematics and the Ph.D. degree in radiophysics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
From 2004 to 2008, he was an Engineer, and in 2009, a Researcher with the Kotel'nikov Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow. Since 2009, he has been an Instrument S...Show More
Andrey Khudchenko received the M.S. degree in applied physics and mathematics and the Ph.D. degree in radiophysics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
From 2004 to 2008, he was an Engineer, and in 2009, a Researcher with the Kotel'nikov Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow. Since 2009, he has been an Instrument S...View more
Author image of Ronald Hesper
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Ronald Hesper received the M.Sc. degree in experimental solid state physics from the University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands, in 1994 and the Ph.D. degree in experimental solid state physics from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2000.
Since 2000, he has been an Instrument Scientist with the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen. From 2000 to 2008, he was involved in the te...Show More
Ronald Hesper received the M.Sc. degree in experimental solid state physics from the University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands, in 1994 and the Ph.D. degree in experimental solid state physics from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2000.
Since 2000, he has been an Instrument Scientist with the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen. From 2000 to 2008, he was involved in the te...View more
Author image of Andrey M. Baryshev
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Andrey M. Baryshev received the master's degree (summa cum laude) in physical quantum electronics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, in 1993, and the Ph.D. degree in superconducting integrated receiver from the Technical University of Delft, Delft, The Netherlands, in 2005.
He is currently a Senior Instrument Scientist with the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Since 1998, he has b...Show More
Andrey M. Baryshev received the master's degree (summa cum laude) in physical quantum electronics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, in 1993, and the Ph.D. degree in superconducting integrated receiver from the Technical University of Delft, Delft, The Netherlands, in 2005.
He is currently a Senior Instrument Scientist with the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Since 1998, he has b...View more
Author image of Nicolas Reyes
Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Nicolas Reyes received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2013.
In 2013, he joined the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany, as a Postdoctoral Researcher for the SOFIA Project, where he was involved in terahertz instrumentation and multipixel receivers. In 2015, he was with the Millimeter/Submillimeter Wave Laboratory, Universidad de Chile. He is...Show More
Nicolas Reyes received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2013.
In 2013, he joined the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany, as a Postdoctoral Researcher for the SOFIA Project, where he was involved in terahertz instrumentation and multipixel receivers. In 2015, he was with the Millimeter/Submillimeter Wave Laboratory, Universidad de Chile. He is...View more
Author image of Fausto Patricio Mena
Millimeter Wave Laboratory and the Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Fausto Patricio Mena received the B.S. degree in physics from the Escuela Politcnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador, in 1994, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2000 and 2004, respectively.
He is currently an Associate Professor with the Electrical Engineering Department, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. In 2004, he joined the Netherlands Institute for...Show More
Fausto Patricio Mena received the B.S. degree in physics from the Escuela Politcnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador, in 1994, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2000 and 2004, respectively.
He is currently an Associate Professor with the Electrical Engineering Department, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. In 2004, he joined the Netherlands Institute for...View more

I. Introduction

Corrugated conical horn antennas have been, traditionally, the main choice when it comes to developing instruments for astronomy applications in the range of millimeter and submillimeter waves (including part of the terahertz (THz) frequency spectrum) [1]. They have been selected due to their excellent characteristics. In particular, their coupling to the fundamental Gaussian mode (in short Gaussicity) is around and a cross-polar level lower than  dB [2]. Nonetheless, this sort of antennas are difficult to manufacture, inevitably extending the production process, and therefore, increasing their price. There are other options to corrugated horns, e.g., conical and pyramidal horns. However, they lack symmetry in the radiation pattern, and additionally, pyramidal horns present astigmatism [3].

Author image of Daniel Arturo Montofré
Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Daniel Arturo Montofré received the B.Sc. degree in physics engineering from the Universidad Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2014. He is currently working toward the double Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and astronomy with the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, and the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, respectively.
His research interests include the development of horn antennas for millimeter/submillimeter astronomical instrumentation, design of frequency selective filters, and quasi-optical design for dual-band observations.
Daniel Arturo Montofré received the B.Sc. degree in physics engineering from the Universidad Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2014. He is currently working toward the double Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and astronomy with the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, and the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, respectively.
His research interests include the development of horn antennas for millimeter/submillimeter astronomical instrumentation, design of frequency selective filters, and quasi-optical design for dual-band observations.View more
Author image of Rocio Molina
Millimeter Wave Laboratory and the Department of Astronomy, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Rocio Molina received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Her M.Sc. thesis topic was the design of optics for heterodyne cameras in millimeter waves.
Since 2014, she has been an Active Member with the Millimeter Wave Laboratory, Astronomy Department, University of Chile, where she has been mainly involved with the design of antennas and other optical devices, including the optics for heterodyne cameras in millimeter waves.
Rocio Molina received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Her M.Sc. thesis topic was the design of optics for heterodyne cameras in millimeter waves.
Since 2014, she has been an Active Member with the Millimeter Wave Laboratory, Astronomy Department, University of Chile, where she has been mainly involved with the design of antennas and other optical devices, including the optics for heterodyne cameras in millimeter waves.View more
Author image of Andrey Khudchenko
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Andrey Khudchenko received the M.S. degree in applied physics and mathematics and the Ph.D. degree in radiophysics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
From 2004 to 2008, he was an Engineer, and in 2009, a Researcher with the Kotel'nikov Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow. Since 2009, he has been an Instrument Scientist with The Netherlands Institute for Space Research SRON, Groningen, The Netherlands, working on the development of new heterodyne terahertz instruments. It includes development of sideband-separating receiver for the ALMA band 9, CHAMP+ high mixers for the APEX telescope, and work on the stabilization of quantum cascade lasers for hot electron bolometer receivers.
Andrey Khudchenko received the M.S. degree in applied physics and mathematics and the Ph.D. degree in radiophysics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
From 2004 to 2008, he was an Engineer, and in 2009, a Researcher with the Kotel'nikov Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow. Since 2009, he has been an Instrument Scientist with The Netherlands Institute for Space Research SRON, Groningen, The Netherlands, working on the development of new heterodyne terahertz instruments. It includes development of sideband-separating receiver for the ALMA band 9, CHAMP+ high mixers for the APEX telescope, and work on the stabilization of quantum cascade lasers for hot electron bolometer receivers.View more
Author image of Ronald Hesper
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Ronald Hesper received the M.Sc. degree in experimental solid state physics from the University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands, in 1994 and the Ph.D. degree in experimental solid state physics from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2000.
Since 2000, he has been an Instrument Scientist with the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen. From 2000 to 2008, he was involved in the technological development of the ALMA Band 9 receivers, including the process of industrialization, as well as related projects like the CHAMP+ mixer arrays for APEX; from 2008 to 2013, on the development of a sideband-separating mixer upgrade for the ALMA Band 9 receivers; and from 2013 to the beginning of 2015, on the industrialization of the ALMA Band 5 receivers. He is currently involved in the development of new (arrayable) heterodyne detector technologies at frequencies around 1 THz.
Ronald Hesper received the M.Sc. degree in experimental solid state physics from the University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands, in 1994 and the Ph.D. degree in experimental solid state physics from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2000.
Since 2000, he has been an Instrument Scientist with the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen. From 2000 to 2008, he was involved in the technological development of the ALMA Band 9 receivers, including the process of industrialization, as well as related projects like the CHAMP+ mixer arrays for APEX; from 2008 to 2013, on the development of a sideband-separating mixer upgrade for the ALMA Band 9 receivers; and from 2013 to the beginning of 2015, on the industrialization of the ALMA Band 5 receivers. He is currently involved in the development of new (arrayable) heterodyne detector technologies at frequencies around 1 THz.View more
Author image of Andrey M. Baryshev
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Andrey M. Baryshev received the master's degree (summa cum laude) in physical quantum electronics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, in 1993, and the Ph.D. degree in superconducting integrated receiver from the Technical University of Delft, Delft, The Netherlands, in 2005.
He is currently a Senior Instrument Scientist with the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Since 1998, he has been with the SRON Low Energy Astrophysics Division and the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Since 2000, he has been involved in a joint effort to develop the SIS receiver (600–720 GHz) for ALMA. In 2013, he became an Associate Professor of astronomical instrumentation for the far-infrared with the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen. His main research interests include the areas of heterodyne and direct detectors for large focal plane arrays at terahertz frequencies, and quasi-optical system design and experimental verification.
Dr. Baryshev was the recipient of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research-VENI grant for research on heterodyne focal plane array technology in 2008, and an EU commission Starting Researcher Grant for work on direct detector focal plane arrays in 2009.
Andrey M. Baryshev received the master's degree (summa cum laude) in physical quantum electronics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia, in 1993, and the Ph.D. degree in superconducting integrated receiver from the Technical University of Delft, Delft, The Netherlands, in 2005.
He is currently a Senior Instrument Scientist with the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Since 1998, he has been with the SRON Low Energy Astrophysics Division and the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Since 2000, he has been involved in a joint effort to develop the SIS receiver (600–720 GHz) for ALMA. In 2013, he became an Associate Professor of astronomical instrumentation for the far-infrared with the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen. His main research interests include the areas of heterodyne and direct detectors for large focal plane arrays at terahertz frequencies, and quasi-optical system design and experimental verification.
Dr. Baryshev was the recipient of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research-VENI grant for research on heterodyne focal plane array technology in 2008, and an EU commission Starting Researcher Grant for work on direct detector focal plane arrays in 2009.View more
Author image of Nicolas Reyes
Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Nicolas Reyes received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2013.
In 2013, he joined the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany, as a Postdoctoral Researcher for the SOFIA Project, where he was involved in terahertz instrumentation and multipixel receivers. In 2015, he was with the Millimeter/Submillimeter Wave Laboratory, Universidad de Chile. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Electrical Engineering Department, Universidad de Chile. His current research interests include low-noise electronic, antennas, numerical simulation, and radio astronomy instrumentation.
Nicolas Reyes received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, in 2013.
In 2013, he joined the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany, as a Postdoctoral Researcher for the SOFIA Project, where he was involved in terahertz instrumentation and multipixel receivers. In 2015, he was with the Millimeter/Submillimeter Wave Laboratory, Universidad de Chile. He is currently an Assistant Professor with the Electrical Engineering Department, Universidad de Chile. His current research interests include low-noise electronic, antennas, numerical simulation, and radio astronomy instrumentation.View more
Author image of Fausto Patricio Mena
Millimeter Wave Laboratory and the Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Fausto Patricio Mena received the B.S. degree in physics from the Escuela Politcnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador, in 1994, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2000 and 2004, respectively.
He is currently an Associate Professor with the Electrical Engineering Department, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. In 2004, he joined the Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Groningen, as an Instrument Scientist with the Low Energy Division. In 2008, he moved to the Universidad de Chile, where he cofounded the Radio Astronomical Instrumentation Group and the Millimeter Wave Laboratory.
Fausto Patricio Mena received the B.S. degree in physics from the Escuela Politcnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador, in 1994, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, in 2000 and 2004, respectively.
He is currently an Associate Professor with the Electrical Engineering Department, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. In 2004, he joined the Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Groningen, as an Instrument Scientist with the Low Energy Division. In 2008, he moved to the Universidad de Chile, where he cofounded the Radio Astronomical Instrumentation Group and the Millimeter Wave Laboratory.View more

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