Radiometric receivers

Updated November 15, 2011

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A radiometric receiver is used in passive sensing, such as radio astronomy. A key characteristic of a radiometric receiver is that it usually has incredibly wide bandwidth.

One classic radiometric receiver is the Dicke radiometer. Robert Dicke developed it during WWII when he worked at the Rad Lab. He appears in our Microwave Hall of Fame!

The Dicke radiometer is characterized by a switchable resistor (the Dicke switch) on the input that is used to calibrate noise temperature. That is a lame explanation, we will add to it later.

For now, here is a web site that provides a block diagram of the Dicke radiometer.

http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/COBE-artists-conceptions.html

More coming soon! Especially if one of our readers can contribute some content!