A W-band Radar Receiver for Cloud Observations

Cloud observations are of significant importance in the study of long-term climatic trends. These observations require high-resolution radars at 94GHz. We have developed a compact multichip module (MCM) 94GHz radar receiver and the state of the art InP MMICs to construct it. The LNA MMIC determined the noise figure of the receiver, 3dB, and conversion gain of 17dB. This LNA MMIC was complemented by a second harmonic mixer MMIC that had very low conversion loss of 9.5dB despite the operation at second harmonic frequency. The MCM receiver provided the system requirement of 2dB noise figure when cooled to 170K.