Submillimeter-wave sideband generation using varactor Schottky diodes

A submillimeter-wave sideband generator based on phase modulation is described. The sideband generator consists of a whisker-contacted Schottky varactor mounted in a reduced-height waveguide. A microwave pump signal modulates the reflection coefficient the varactor presents to an incident submillimeter-wave carrier. The circuit discussed in this paper has exhibited a carrier-to-single sideband conversion loss of 14 dB and an output power of 55 /spl mu/W at 1.6 THz.