Conference paper
Measurements on Active Cold Loads for Radiometer Calibration
Two semi-conductor Active Cold Loads (ACLs) to be used as cold references in spaceborne microwave radiometers have been developed. An X-band frequency was chosen, and the target noise temperature value was in the 50 to 100 K range. The ACLs are characterized in the operating temperature range 0 50 degrees C, and long term stability is assessed.
To this end a Test Bed has been developed. This Test Bed is actually a stable radiometer, and its design is briefly reviewed. The test setup is described, and preliminary test campaign results indicate output temperatures of 77 K and 55 K for the two ACLs. The temperature sensitivity is slightly below 0.4 K/degrees C for the units, and excellent long term stability prevails.
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | IEEE Press |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Pages: | 1-4 |
| Proceedings: | 10th Specialist Meeting on Microwave Radiometry and Remote Sensing of the Environment |
| Journal subtitle: | Microrad 2008 |
| ISBN: | 1424419867 , 1424419875 , 9781424419869 , 9781424419876 , 1509076786 and 9781509076789 |
| Types: | Conference paper |
| DOI: | 10.1109/MICRAD.2008.4579465 |
| ORCIDs: | Skou, Niels , Søbjærg, Sten Schmidl and Balling, Jan E. |
Calibration Frequency Microwave Microwave measurements Microwave radiometry Space cooling Stability System testing Temperature distribution Temperature measurement Temperature sensors X-band frequency active cold load active cold loads calibration cold references geophysical equipment radiometer radiometer calibration radiometers radiometry semiconductor ACL measurements spaceborne microwave radiometers temperature 0 degC to 50 degC temperature 50 K to 100 K test bed development test equipment
