Millimeter-wave system-on-chip advancement for fusion plasma diagnostics
Journal
Review of Scientific Instruments
Journal Volume
89
Journal Issue
10
Pages
10H108-1 - 10H108-4
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Yu J.-H.
Chang Y.-T.
Chang C.-C.
Chang S.-F.
Ye Y.
Pham A.V.
Tobias B.J.
Zhu Y.
Domier C.W.
Luhmann N.C., Jr.
Abstract
Recent advances in radio-frequency system-on-chip technology have provided mm-wave fusion plasma diagnostics with the capability to overcome major challenges such as space inefficiency, inflexible installation, sensitivity, susceptibility to EMI, and prohibitively high cost of conventional discrete component assemblies as higher imaging resolution and data accuracy are achieved by increasing the number of channels. Nowadays, shrinking transistor gate lengths on fabrication techniques have enabled hundreds of GHz operation, which is suitable for millimeter-wave diagnostics on current and future tokamaks. The Davis Millimeter Wave Research Center (DMRC) has successfully developed V-band (55-75 GHz) transmitter and receiver chips for Microwave Imaging Reflectometer (MIR) instruments. The transmitter can illuminate 8 different frequencies simultaneously within 55-75 GHz. Moreover, the receiver has the capability to amplify the reflected signal (>30 dB) while offering 10-30× reduction in noise temperature compared to current MIR instruments. Plasma diagnostics requires ultra-wideband (more than 20 GHz) operation which is approximately nine times wider bandwidth than the recent commercial impetus for communication systems. Current efforts are underway for gallium-arsenide monolithic microwave integrated circuit receiver chips at W-band (75-110 GHz) and F-band (90-140 GHz) permitting measurements at higher toroidal magnetic fields. © 2018 Author(s).
Other Subjects
Application specific integrated circuits; Fusion reactions; Gallium arsenide; III-V semiconductors; Magnetoplasma; Plasma diagnostics; Programmable logic controllers; Signal receivers; System-on-chip; Transmitters; Ultra-wideband (UWB); Fabrication technique; Fusion plasma diagnostics; Microwave imaging reflectometers; Millimeter-wave systems; Radio frequency systems; Toroidal magnetic fields; Transistor gate length; Transmitter and receiver; Millimeter waves
Type
journal article