A low-temperature thermal noise source for use at the Goonhilly satellite-communication earth station

A matched waveguide termination was required as part of the noise temperature calibration facility in the receiving system at the Goonhilly earth-station. For routine measurement of overall system noise temperature, this termination is at ambient temperature. For other noise measurements, and in particular for the measurement of the effective input noise temperature of the maser, the waveguide termination is cooled to 77°K by immersion in liquid nitrogen.