(Sub)mm-wave components and subsystems based on PBG technology

Photonic band gap (PBG) materials present some interesting properties that may overcome some of the problems of conventional technologies. In particular, PBG architecture provides a practical method for the assembly of RF circuitry having three-dimensional properties. This paper presents some (sub)mm-wave components based on this technology. PBG dipole antennas and PBG waveguides have been studied. In addition, PBG crystals and active devices have been combined for the first time resulting in a PBG mixer. First results suggest that circuits implementing PBG technology can compete with conventional waveguide technology. A PBG based subharmonic mixer operating around 250 GHz exhibits a double sideband noise temperature of 3800 K.