Detailed Design of an 18-45 GHz Multi-Purpose Radio Astronomy Receiver

We report on recent developments in the design of a sideband separating radio astronomy receiver operating from 18 - 45 GHz, implemented as a multi-chip module (MCM) on RF laminate, with analogue sideband calibration. The sideband rejection calibration achieves a simulated, mean sideband rejection improvement of 5 dB in comparison with a receiver without calibration, evaluated over a 1 GHz frequency resolution. The minimum simulated rejection is 15 dB at the IF band edges, with an average of 25 dB rejection mid-band. A back-end converter design for testing the receiver is also presented.