Generation of continuous millimeter and sub-millimeter waves using photonic techniques

Recent progress in the photonic generation of high-frequency signals in the millimeter-wave (MMW) and submillimeter-wave (SMMW) regions is reported. Optical MMW signal sources based on semiconductor laser diodes (LDs) are described. Ultrafast photodiodes called uni-traveling-carrier photodiodes (UTC-PDs) and the enhancement of their output power by adding a matching circuit to the PD are explained. The integration of the PD with planar antennas for free-space applications such as transmitters in millimeter-wave wireless links and local oscillators in radio-astronomy receivers are shown.