Design of an IF section for a Galactic Emission Mapping experiment

TL;DR

This paper presents the design, simulation, and experimental validation of a high-gain, 600MHz IF chain for a 5GHz galactic survey receiver, aiming to improve galactic foreground characterization for CMBR studies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel 600MHz IF chain design using RF technology and microstrip design for a 5GHz galactic emission mapping receiver.

Findings

Successful prototype implementation and testing

Simulation results align with experimental data

Enhanced receiver performance for galactic surveys

Abstract

In the context of the Galactic Emission Mapping collaboration, a galactic survey at 5GHz is in preparation to properly characterize the galactic foreground to the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR). For the North sky survey, a new receiver is being developed. This 5GHz heterodyne polarimeter has a high gain IF (intermediate frequency) chain using the latest RF technology and microstrip design that we describe in the present article. Working at 600MHz central frequency, it consists of a pre-amplifier with an integral band-pass filter followed by an amplifier with digitally controlled gain and a frequency converter to zero-IF that feeds the ADC of a four channel digital correlator (outside the scope of the present article). This paper focuses the design options and constraints and presents the simulations and experimental results of a circuit prototype.