Far-infrared Schottky barrier diode mixers
Paper in proceeding, 2026
Receivers operating in ambient temperatures are essential for long-duration space missions aiming to measure gas spectra at terahertz frequencies for atmospheric sciences. This paper discusses the current status and advancements of 2-5 THz Schottky barrier diode mixers. Several challenges related to fabrication and assembly tolerances significantly influence performance, including the complex high-frequency loss in the integrated semiconductor diode circuit. This paper will present how to address these challenges and the status and progress toward room-temperature heterodyne receivers for the far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Author
Jan Stake
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
WiTECH
Divya Jayasankar
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
WiTECH
Jonathan Westin
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
Theodore Reck
WiTECH
Virginia Diodes, Inc.
Jeffrey Hesler
WiTECH
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
Virginia Diodes, Inc.
Peter Sobis
WiTECH
Low Noise Factory
Olivier Auriacombe
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Laboratory
WiTECH
Heinz-Wilhelm Huebers
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
2025 50th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz)
2162-2027 (ISSN) 2162-2035 (eISSN)
979-8-3503-7883-2 (ISBN)
50th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz)
Helsinki, Finland,
Helsinki, Finland,
Development of the national infrastructure for microwave and terahertz characterization: expanding the use of the electromagnetic spectrum
Swedish Research Council (VR) (2020-06187), 2021-01-01 -- 2024-12-31.
Supra-THz semiconductor electronics for space-borne Earth observations
Swedish National Space Board (2023-00310), 2024-01-01 -- 2027-12-31.
Far-infrared semiconductor electronics (FIRE)
European Commission (EC) (EC/HE/101142356), 2024-10-01 -- 2029-09-30.
Areas of Advance
Information and Communication Technology
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Infrastructure
Kollberg Laboratory
Myfab (incl. Nanofabrication Laboratory)
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering
DOI
10.1109/IRMMW-THz61557.2025.11319778