Solid-State Millimeter-Wave Through Terahertz Transceivers

Schottky diode technology has been used for the generation and detection of millimeter waves for decades. The advantages of this solid-state approach are compact size, frequency tunability, and relatively low cost. Recent drivers from the wideband communications, security imaging, spectroscopy, as well as test and measurement markets have pushed this technology further in recent years. This chapter highlights the most recent advances in Schottky diode based sources and detectors. This includes wideband tunable frequency sources up to 1 THz, such as a multiplier chain that provides -16 dBm typical output power over the full WM-250 750–1100 GHz band. Examples of narrowband high-power sources are also given, such as a 250 mW multiplier chain at 260 GHz, and a highly compact complete transmitter with 10 mW output power from 270–290 GHz for imaging applications. Several examples are also given of diode-based wideband receivers, for terrestrial and orbital applications, including broadband millimeter-wave downconverters operating up to 1.1 THz. Millimeter-wave heterodyne receivers for CubeSat atmospheric radiometery are also described, including a 880 GHz heterodyne receiver for ice cloud measurements and a 183 GHz 4-channel radiometer for tropical storm tracking.