3.9 Actual receivers

Fig. 3.5 gives you a chance to peek at the cold RF assembly of one of the dual-channel receivers in operation at the 30-m telescope since May 1998.

  

Figure 3.5: The cold RF assembly for a dual-channel receiver used at the 30-m telescope.

  

Figure: DSB noise performance of one of the 230GHz receivers in operation at the PdB interferometer

Fig. 3.6 shows the performance of one of the Plateau de Bure 230GHz receivers. The present LO/IF system dictates a 1.5GHz IF, therefore, these receivers are operated in DSB mode; in the interferometer, the sidebands can be separated due to their different fringe rates. These receivers are among the best currently produced (either at IRAM or elsewhere in the world).