An Ultra-Compact 520–600 GHz/1100-1200 GHz Receiver with <10 W Power Consumption for High-Spectral Resolution Spectroscopy from Small-Sat Platforms

We report in the development a very low dc power consumption (<10 W) ultra-compact dual-band single-channel receiver that operates simultaneously in the 520–600 GHz band and the 1100–1200 GHz band. A single frequency multiplied 520–600 GHz local oscillator chain generating 4–7 mW output power is used to pump both mixers simultaneously and obtain state-of-the-art performance with a reduction of 5 to 10 times in dc power, mass and size. The receiver is designed to fit Small Sat platforms for remote velocity resolved water detection and mapping in future planetary science mission to comets and ocean worlds.