Determination of Schottky diode mixer conversion losses in the SUBMM wavelength range

Optically pumped submm lasers have several submm laser lines with powers up to 30 m Watts suitable to drive a diode mixer to generate IF signals between 1 MHz and a few GHz. The sensitivity of the diode mixers which were for heterodyne detection systems in the submm wavelength range was determined using HCN-lasers and optically pumped submm gas lasers between 41.7 microns and 1.217 microns. The difference frequency (IF) signals were generated by mixing laser lines of two different submm lasers whose beams were combined by an optical dipleexer. The beat signals were detected using a Schottky diode in an open structure mixer followed by a spectrum analyzer.