Towards Multi-Pixel Heterodyne Terahertz Receivers

Paper in proceeding, 2011

Terahertz multi-pixel heterodyne receivers introduce multiple challenges for their implementation, mostly due to the extremely small dimensions of all components and even smaller tolerances in terms of alignment, linear dimensions and waveguide component surface quality. In this manuscript, we present a concept of terahertz multi-pixel heterodyne receiver employing optical layout using polarization split between the LO and RF. The frontend is based on a waveguide balanced HEB mixer for the frequency band 1.6 – 2.0 THz. The balanced HEB mixer follows the layout of earlier demonstrated APEX T2 mixer. However for the mixer presented here, we implemented splitblock layout offering minimized lengths of all waveguides and thus reducing the associated RF loss. The micromachining methods employed for producing the mixer housing and the HEB mixer chip are very suitable for producing multiple structures and hence are in-line with requirements of multi-pixel receiver technology. The demonstrated relatively simple mounting of the mixer chip with self-aligning should greatly facilitate the integration of such multi-channel receiver.