Abstract
In this paper the design and experimental validation of a fourth-harmonic mixer based on Schottky diodes working around 300 GHz is presented. The main novelty of this work consists in the integration of an MMIC-based local oscillator, working around 75 GHz, and a mixer in the same metallic block housing. A prototype has been characterized using the Y-Factor method and yields a best measured conversion loss and an equivalent noise temperature of 14 dB and 9600 K, respectively. This performance is comparable to the state-of-the-art for this type of mixer.
Highlights
For future terahertz (THz) applications, new compact, versatile and portable receivers and transmitters are necessary
In this paper we have described the design and evaluation of a fourth-harmonic mixer with an integrated MMIC-based local oscillator (LO)
This cost effective solution allows the use of low-frequency LO sources based on COTS components, which can be developed on planar technology
Summary
For future terahertz (THz) applications, new compact, versatile and portable receivers and transmitters are necessary. We simplify this approach and evaluate the performance of a 4thharmonic mixer pumped with a similar MMIC-based LO source The use of this type of configuration, for which RF = 4 × fOL ± IF [9,10,11], allows extending the frequency range of submillimeter-wave mixers without requiring the use of a high LO frequency or a frequency multiplier for the LO signal, such as that proposed in [8,12]. It consists of an MMIC-based local oscillator and a microstrip Schottky-diodebased mixer. The dimensions of the matching lines were calculated in order to implement these optimum impedances so that the mixer conversion losses were minimized
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