A 660 GHz up-converter for THz communications

This paper reports on a 660 GHz transmitter using InP HEMT technology. The transmitter features a x18 multiplier chain, sub-harmonic mixer, and a power amplifier at the output. Tradeoffs in the upconverter topology are discussed, including transmit noise power, RF filtering, and phase noise. With SSPA at the output, this up-converter achieves the highest reported power to date at this frequency. This significantly advances the technology required for submillimeter wave communication.