High Dynamic Range THz Systems using ErAs:In(Al)GaAs Photoconductors

This paper reviews progress on ErAs:In(Al)GaAs photomixers for operation with telecom lasers at 1550 nm, including linearity and absorption coefficient measurements, specifications, packaging example, and applications in vector spectrometry. We have achieved a receiver noise equivalent power as low as 1.81 fW/Hz at 188 GHz under continuous-wave operation and a bandwidth of more than 6 THz and a peak dynamic range of 89 dB under pulsed operation.