High power tunable millimeter wave sources using fixed-tuned planar varactor sideband generators

The development of planar varactor tunerless sideband generators (SBGs) is described in this paper. Integration of the diode with the embedding circuit enhances mechanical robustness and makes the circuits easy to handle compared with a whisker-contacted diode structure. Preliminary measurements at 200 GHz yielded conversion efficiencies of 7-10 dB over more than 20 GHz tuning range. Simulations indicate that THz-scaled SBGs pumped with FIR-lasers (>100 mW) power will yield mWs of tunable THz power.