Stein Hollung

Heterostructure-barrier-varactor design

In this paper, we propose a simple set of accurate frequency-domain design equations for calculation of optimum embedding impedances, optimum input power, bandwidth, and conversion efficiency of heterostructure-barrier-varactor (HBV) frequency triplers. A set of modeling equations for harmonic balance simulations of HBV multipliers are also given. A 141-GHz quasi-optical HBV tripler was designed using the method and experimental results show good agreement with the predicted results.

A distributed heterostructure barrier varactor frequency tripler

We present a broadband nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) frequency multiplier at F-band. The multiplier consists of a finline section periodically loaded with 15 heterostructure barrier varactor (HBV) diodes. Tapered slot antennas are used to couple the fundamental signal from a WR-22 rectangular waveguide to the distributed multiplier as well as radiate the output power into free space. The frequency tripler exhibits 10-dBm peak radiated power at 130.5 GHz with more than 10% 3-dB bandwidth and 7% conversion efficiency. The tripler can be used as an inexpensive broad-band solid-state source for millimeter-wave applications.

Frequency multiplier measurements on heterostructure barrier varactors on a copper substrate

We have fabricated heterostructure barrier varactors (HBV) on a copper substrate, which offers reduced spreading resistance, and improved thermal conductivity compared to an InP substrate. The devices are fabricated without degrading the electrical characteristics. The three-barrier HBV material grown by MOVPE has a leakage current of only 0.1 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m/sup 2/ at 19 V. The maximum capacitance is 0.54 fF//spl mu/m/sup 2/. In a frequency tripler experiment a maximum output power of 7.1 mW was generated at 221 GHz with a flange-to-flange efficiency of 7.9%.

A 141-GHz integrated quasi-optical slot antenna tripler

We present a quasi-optical frequency tripler with heterostructure barrier varactor (HBV) diodes soldered across two slot antennas and located at the focal plane of a dielectric lens. The slot antennas are fed from a WR-22 waveguide connected to a Gunn oscillator. A quasi-optical high-pass filter is used to tune the slot impedance and increase the conversion efficiency. The symmetric capacitance-voltage and asymmetric current-voltage characteristics of the HBV diodes only allows odd harmonics of the applied signal to be generated, and thus simplifies the frequency tripler design.