W-band planar antennas for next generation sub-millimeter focal plane arrays

Current and future generations of astronomical instruments in the millimetre (mm) and sub-mm range are in need of increased sensitivity through the use of ever larger focal planes with 1000s of pixels. Mass, dimensions and manufacture requirements, mainly for new space missions, is driving the technology to go from feedhorn, and generally waveguide based cold optics to planar coupled detectors, while maintaining RF performance. The present results of a current ESA TRP are presented with respect to the work on planar antennae that will be coupled to cold bolometric detectors through the use of planar mesh lenses. Two planar antennae operating at W-band are developed, namely, a broadband sinuous antenna and a variation on the classical dual-slot antenna to realise multi-band functionality.