Design and measurements of a 210 GHz subharmonically pumped GaAs MMIC mixer

The authors present early design, fabrication and performance information on a 210-GHz subharmonically pumped GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) mixer using two individually biased antiparallel diodes in a simple crossed waveguide mount. The measured noise and conversion loss were within 3.5 dB of the best reported subharmonic mixers using individually optimized and mounted planar or whisker contacted diodes at this frequency. The performance of a set of antiparallel diodes, identical to those used in the MMIC but flip chip mounted on a non-MMIC subharmonic mixer mount, is also presented and compared with planar diodes made with a different anode deposition process in the same mixer mount.<
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