A 3.5-THz, x6-Harmonic, Single-Ended Schottky Diode Mixer for Frequency Stabilization of Quantum-Cascade Lasers

Efficient and compact frequency converters are essential for frequency stabilization of terahertz sources. In this paper, we present a 3.5-THz, x6-harmonic, integrated Schottky diode mixer operating at room temperature. The designed frequency converter is based on a single-ended, planar Schottky diode with a sub-micron anode contact area defined on a suspended 2-um ultra-thin GaAs substrate. The dc-grounded anode pad was combined with the radio frequency E-plane probe, which resulted in an electrically compact circuit. At 200 MHz intermediate frequency, a mixer conversion loss of about 59 dB is measured resulting in a 40 dB signal-to-noise ratio in a phase-locking application. Using a quasi-static diode model combined with electromagnetic simulations, good agreement with the measured results was obtained. Harmonic frequency converters without the need of cryogenic cooling will help in the realization of highly sensitive space and air-borne heterodyne receivers.<br>

A 3.5-THz, x6-Harmonic, Single-Ended Schottky Diode Mixer for Frequency Stabilization of Quantum-Cascade Lasers

Efficient and compact frequency converters are essential for frequency stabilization of terahertz sources. In this paper, we present a 3.5-THz, x6-harmonic, integrated Schottky diode mixer operating at room temperature. The designed frequency converter is based on a single-ended, planar Schottky diode with a sub-micron anode contact area defined on a suspended 2-um ultra-thin GaAs substrate. The dc-grounded anode pad was combined with the radio frequency E-plane probe, which resulted in an electrically compact circuit. At 200 MHz intermediate frequency, a mixer conversion loss of about 59 dB is measured resulting in a 40 dB signal-to-noise ratio in a phase-locking application. Using a quasi-static diode model combined with electromagnetic simulations, good agreement with the measured results was obtained. Harmonic frequency converters without the need of cryogenic cooling will help in the realization of highly sensitive space and air-borne heterodyne receivers.<br>

A 3.5-THz, x6-Harmonic, Single-Ended Schottky Diode Mixer for Frequency Stabilization of Quantum-Cascade Lasers

Efficient and compact frequency converters are essential for frequency stabilization of terahertz sources. In this paper, we present a 3.5-THz, x6-harmonic, integrated Schottky diode mixer operating at room temperature. The designed frequency converter is based on a single-ended, planar Schottky diode with a sub-micron anode contact area defined on a suspended 2-um ultra-thin GaAs substrate. The dc-grounded anode pad was combined with the radio frequency E-plane probe, which resulted in an electrically compact circuit. At 200 MHz intermediate frequency, a mixer conversion loss of about 59 dB is measured resulting in a 40 dB signal-to-noise ratio in a phase-locking application. Using a quasi-static diode model combined with electromagnetic simulations, good agreement with the measured results was obtained. Harmonic frequency converters without the need of cryogenic cooling will help in the realization of highly sensitive space and air-borne heterodyne receivers.<br>

Tunneling-induced Talbot effect

We investigate the reforming of a plane wave into a periodic waveform in its propagation through a structural asymmetry four-level quantum dot molecule (QDM) system that is induced by an inter-dot tunneling process and present the resulting tunneling-induced Talbot effect. The tunneling process between two neighborhood dots is provided with the aid of a gate voltage. Using a periodic coupling field the response of the medium to the propagating plane probe beam becomes periodic. The needed periodic coupling field is generated with the interference of two coherent plane waves having a small angle and propagating almost parallel to the probe beam direction. In the presence of the tunneling effect of an electron between two adjacent QDs, for the probe beam propagating through the QDM system, the medium becomes transparent where the coupling fields interfere constructively. As a result, the spatial periodicity of the coupling field modulates the passing plane probe beam. We determine the minimum length of the QDM system to generate a periodic intensity profile with a visibility value equal to 1 for the probe field at the exit plane of the medium. It is also shown that by increasing the propagation length of the probe beam through the QDM medium, the profile of the maximum intensity areas becomes sharper. This feature is quantified by considering a sharpness factor for the intensity profile of the probe beam at the transverse plane. Finally, we investigate free space propagation of the induced periodic field and present the Talbot images of the tunneling-induced periodic patterns at different propagation distances for different values of the QDM medium lengths. The presented dynamically designing method of the periodic coherent intensity patterns might find applications in science and technology. For instance, in optical lithography, the need to use micro/nanofabricated physical transmission diffraction gratings, in which preparation of them is expensive and time-consuming, can be eliminated.

D-Band Frequency Tripler Module Using Anti-Parallel Diode Pair and Waveguide Transitions

In this paper, D-band (110–170 GHz) frequency tripler module is presented using anti-parallel GaAs Schottky diode pair and waveguide-to-microstrip transitions. The anti-parallel diode pair is used as a nonlinear device generating harmonic components for Q-band input signal (33–50 GHz). The diode is zero-biased to eliminate the bias circuits and thus minimize the number of circuit components for low-cost hybrid fabrication. The anti-parallel connection of two identical diodes effectively suppresses DC and even harmonics in the output. Furthermore, the first and second harmonics of Q-band input signal are cut off by D-band rectangular waveguide. Input and output impedance matching networks are designed based on the optimum impedances determined by harmonic source- and load-pull simulations using the developed nonlinear diode model. Waveguide-to-microstrip transitions at Q- and D-bands are also designed using E-plane probe to package the frequency tripler in the waveguide module. The compensation circuit is added to reduce the impedance mismatches by bond-wires connecting two separate substrates. The fabricated frequency tripler module produces a maximum output power of 5.4 dBm at 123 GHz under input power of 20.5 dBm. A 3 dB bandwidth is as wide as 22.5% from 118.5 to 148.5 GHz at the input power of 15.0 dBm. This result corresponds to the excellent bandwidth performance with a conversion gain comparable to the previously reported frequency tripler operating at D-band.

Highly Integrated Resonant Tunneling Diode with Rectangular Waveguide Output for W-Band Communication System

A packaged resonant tunneling diode (RTD) with rectangular waveguide output for highly integrated wireless communication is proposed. The output signal of the RTD chip is radiated to the rectangular waveguide through an E plane probe transformer. Next, the RTD chip is electrically connected to the transformer by using gold wire bonding. The packaged RTD exhibits an oscillation frequency of 92 GHz, while the maximum radio frequency (RF) output power is −7 dBm. A miniaturized and high data rate wireless communication system with a 7 Gbps on–off keying (OOK) module by using the RTD is demonstrated, and the bit error rate (BER) of the 7 Gbps is below 3.8 × 10−3.