The European Space Agency Tender

Receiver Array Is An Essential Approach In Improving The Spatial Resolution And Radiometric Sensitivity Of Passive Mm-wave And Sub-mm-wave Sensors Such As Imagers. Achieving Necessary Enabling Degree Of Integration In An (focal) Array, It Would Be Essential To Have A Centrally Distributed Lo Instead Of An Lo Per Pixel Solution. Distribution Of Mm-wave Lo Signal By Waveguides At Rf Is Not Feasible Due To Prohibitive Losses. Instead, Distribution Of The Centralized Lo Signal By Almostlossless Optical Fibre To Each Rf Mixerwould Be An Attractive Solution. However, Optically Pumpedmm-wave Or Sub-mm Wave Mixers Have Not Been Developed For Space.optically Pumped Mixer Can Be Implemented By Either Direct Pumping Of The Mixer Photodiode Or By Rf Pumping A Schottky Mixer By An Opto-electrical Converter. These Techniques Have Been Demonstrated At Lower Microwave Frequencies But Have Not Yet Been Widely Developed At Mm-wave Frequencies. Therefore, The Potential Of Optically Pumped Mm-wave Mixer Remains Largely Unknown Today. Assuming Reasonable Performance Could Be Obtained For Noise Temperature And Conversion Loss, The Optically Pumped Mixer Would Become A Very Attractive Building Block For Integratedreceiver Arrays. Even In Cases Where These Performance Parameters Would Not Reach That Of Rf Pumpedschottky Mixers Of Today, The Optically Pumped Mixer Would Become An Enabler Of Heterodyne Array In Cases Where The Receiver Can Be Equipped With An Rf Lna With Adequate Noise Figure.this Activity Encompasses The Following Tasks:- Review Of Mixer Technologies- Device Modelling And Design- Manufacturing Of A Breadboard And Test Of Prototype Mixers At Relevant Frequencies Ofpassive Mm-wave Instruments Between 50 To 660 Ghz (tbc)- Validation Of The Test Results.procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity Restricted To Non-prime Contractors (incl. Smes). For Additional Information Please Go To:http://www.esa.int/about_us/business_with_esa/small_and_medium_sized_enterprises/opportunities_for_smes/procurement_policy_on_fair_access_for_smes_-_the_c1-c4_clauses.