Cryogenic C-Band Hybrid MMIC Low-Noise Amplifier Using HTS Input Matching Network Assisted by Gray Wolf Optimizer

Abstract

In this article, a cryogenic 4–8-GHz hybrid monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) low-noise amplifier (LNA), enhanced with an external high-temperature superconductor (HTS) impedance matching network (IMN), is proposed. It evolves from a reference InP MMIC LNA by substituting the on-chip IMN with an external HTS IMN, facilitating seamless integration with superconductor circuit units. The Gray Wolf Optimization algorithm is utilized to optimize the IMN. Compared with the reference MMIC LNA, the hybrid MMIC LNA exhibits an average noise reduction of approximately 5.2 K at 77 K and 1.9 K at 15 K during testing. These results make it a promising candidate for applications in superconductor receivers.