# An Interview with Adrian Tang

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2020-03-09
- Length: 1h 22m
- Episode: 483
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/483-an-interview-with-adrian-tang/

## Summary

Adrian Tang, the lead CMOS designer at JPL, explains the design of custom high-frequency silicon chips for terahertz spectroscopy used in space and terrestrial missions. He details the transition from exotic semiconductor mixers to CMOS-based synthesizers and ADCs, highlighting the 'Rectangle' balloon mission's 180 GHz receiver and the 'Herschel' telescope's backend processing. Tang discusses the engineering trade-offs between sensitivity, power, and mass, noting why terahertz technology is uniquely suited for space science rather than terrestrial wireless or security applications.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=1) Introduction: Adrian Tang and JPL's Mission
- [1:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=93) Terahertz Spectroscopy and Limb Sounding
- [10:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=640) Front-End Architecture and Antenna Design
- [26:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=1585) The Rectangle Balloon Mission and CMOS Receiver
- [40:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=2422) Sponsor Read: Roden Schwartz Oscilloscope
- [52:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=3126) Snow Water Equivalent Measurement from UAVs
- [55:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=3337) CMOS Design Flow and TSMC Fabrication
- [59:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=3569) Verification, BIST, and Chip Reuse
- [1:12:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-03-09-an-interview-with-adrian-tang#t=4358) Terahertz Applications: Wireless, Imaging, and Security

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- JPL (company)
- Rectangle (product)
- Herschel (product)
- Roden Schwartz (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Northrop Grumman (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep078: Happy B-Day MP3, Eavesdrop on a Mars Probe, Shadowcasting 7-Segments, & a Spicy Commodore 64](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-07-31-ep078-happy-b-day-mp3-eavesdrop-on-a-mars-probe-shadowcasting-7-segments-a-spicy) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 187: The Sound of Gleeful Gerbils, The Song of the Hard Drive, and a Lipstick Pickup Lullaby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-09-30-ep-187-the-sound-of-gleeful-gerbils-the-song-of-the-hard-drive-and-a-lipstick-pi) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Returning from Mars (Matt Damon Redux) | Apple & the Sun King | Chip Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-10-11-returning-from-mars-matt-damon-redux-apple-the-sun-king-chip-packaging) (EE Times Current)
- [Computing in the Cosmos: Sophia Space's Mission to Move Data Centers Into Orbit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-07-24-computing-in-the-cosmos-sophia-spaces-mission-to-move-data-centers-into-orbit) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

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