Concepcion, 03 April 2020

Astronomy researcher receives award for best paper of the year in prestigious international scientific journal

• The recognition, titled the "IEEE MTT-S 2020 THz Science and Technology Best Paper Award," was presented by IEEE, an association dedicated to promoting innovation and technological excellence and recognised as the largest professional technical society in the world.
• The award is expected to be presented at the upcoming “International Microwave Symposium” organised by IEEE, which will take place during the week of 22 to 26 June 2020 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
• Dr. Rodrigo Reeves, an academic in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Concepción, is a member of the award-winning team.

“A Programmable Cryogenic Waveguide Calibration Load With Exceptional Temporal Response and Linearity” is the title of the research that won the award for best paper of the year in science and technology. The work was carried out by scientists Jacob W. Kooi (JPL), Rodrigo A. Reeves (UdeC), Arthur W. Lichtenberger (UVA), Theodore J. Reck (JPL), Andy K. Fung (JPL), Sander Weinreb (Caltech), James W. Lamb (Caltech), Rohit S. Gawande (JPL), Kieran A. Cleary (Caltech), and Goutam Chattopadhyay (JPL).

“The publication focuses on the development of a calibration source for instruments detecting ultra-weak signals operating at cryogenic temperatures, such as those used in millimetre and sub-millimetre radio astronomy. The calibration source is programmable, miniaturised, and highly responsive in terms of temporal behaviour, capable of changing and controlling its physical temperature within seconds,” explains Dr. Reeves.

The design allows wave receivers, such as those used by ALMA, to be presented with a radiative blackbody source whose temperature can be rapidly varied, without affecting the operating conditions of the instrument being characterised — something that had not been possible until now at cryogenic temperatures in the millimetre wave range. This innovative concept can now be extended to frequencies as high as the THz range.

The recognition is awarded by the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the largest professional technical organisation in the world, composed of engineers, scientists, and professionals in the field.

Celeste Burgos Badal
Department of Astronomy Communications
University of Concepcion