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An Accurate Method for Determining the IF Noise in SIS Heterodyne Receivers

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Abstract

We present a new method to determine the contribution of the IF-amplifier chain to the overall noise performance of an SE-based receiver. Using simulated I-V and IF power characteristics, we show that the standard method used to date to evaluate the IF noise can underestimate the contribution because of non-negligible curvature in the post-gap SIS I-V characteristic. We demonstrate that the new method is not susceptible to the post-gap curvature, and discuss its benefits and limitations to the accurate and precise evaluation of IF noise contributions.

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Isaak, K.G., Withington, S. & Yassin, G. An Accurate Method for Determining the IF Noise in SIS Heterodyne Receivers. International Journal of Infrared and Millimeter Waves 21, 1427–1439 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026405007342

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026405007342

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