Conception of a 90-GHz metamaterial-based coupler for astrophysical applications

Designed for astrophysical applications, this coupler must be as small as possible to be integrated in a low temperature superconducting detection chain. By using metamaterials, dimensions can be reduced and performances enhanced compared with a conventional coupler. The novelty of the work presented in this paper is a coupler that operates at millimeter waves (W band) and cryogenic temperatures (4 K) for astrophysics applications and more precisely for the detection of the cosmological microwave background radiation.