A new 100-GHz band front-end system with a waveguide-type dual-polarization sideband-separating SIS receiver for the NRO 45-m radio telescope

Abstract

We developed a waveguide-type dual-polarization sideband-separating SIS receiver system of the 100-GHz band for the 45-m radio telescope at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, Japan. This receiver is composed of an orthomode transducer and two sideband-separating SIS mixers, which are both based on a waveguide technique. The receiver has four intermediate frequency (IF) bands of 4.0-8.0 GHz. Over the radio frequency range of 80-120 GHz, the single-sideband receiver noise temperatures are 50-100 K, and the image rejection ratios (IRRs) are greater than 10 dB. We developed new matching optics for the telescope beam as well as new IF chains for the four IF signals. The new receiver system was installed in the telescope, and we successfully observed the 12CO, 13CO, and C18O emission lines simultaneously toward the Sagittarius B2 region to confirm the performance of the receiver system. The SSB noise temperature of the system, including the atmosphere, became approximately half of that of the previous receiver system. The IRRs of the two 2SB mixers were estimated from the 12CO and HCO+ spectra from the W 51 giant molecular cloud, resulting in > 20 dB for one polarization and > 12 dB for the other polarization. © 2008. Astronomical Society of Japan.