Operating diodes at mm-wave frequencies

Millimeter-wave engineering has a large number of military, commercial, and industrial applications. Because of the atmospheric attenuation of certain frequencies, the technology is ideally suited for secure (intercept- or jam-proof) military communications. Two sets of diodes perform functions related to the generation and detection of signals at millimeter waves. Gunn and IMPATT diodes have no substitutes for the generation of fundamental tones at millimeter-wave frequencies, while Schottky barrier and PIN diodes work quite well for the detection and control of this energy. Attention is given to the operation of Gunn diodes and IMPATT diodes, the design of packaging which will allow Gunn diodes and IMPATT diodes to work beyond 90 GHz, operating conditions for the PIN diode, and Schottky barrier diodes which can detect signals as high as 300 GHz.