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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 2)
LAmPOST will make Linearity measurements on Amplifiers that need to operate at low Power to enable the current instrument concept for Origins Space Telescope ( OST) to operate at 4 degrees Kelvin without self-heating.While operating at these suboptimal bias levels, the amplifiers have been measured for their noise temperature at 4K, and their Gain.
This team will test the key linearity specifications of P1dB (inflection point where power saturates 1dB below linear gain) and OIP3. (Output Intermodulation Products of the 3rd order intercept with fundamental).
These measurements will be made at 4 degrees Kelvin with a bandwidth of 4-8 GHz being the primary focus.
The technological maturity advancement of low noise amplifiers that operate at 300uA or less (power dissipation) is a key assumption of both Origins Space Telescope (OST) and the Lynx Telescope Mission Concepts. This research will allow the OST and Lynx Telescope mission thermal concept to advance, and gain confidence and insight into three OST instruments and develop more detailed design.
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