Antennas and waveguides for far-infrared integrated circuits

Abstract

Antennas and waveguides for the wavelength range 0.1-3 mm are considered. Emphasis is placed on those designs which lend themselves to integration with each other and with other components such as diodes. The general properties of FIR antennas are reviewed. A novel silicon waveguide antenna is discussed, and its design, simulation, fabrication, and performance at 119 μm are described. This antenna has a highly symmetrical, single-lobed beam with 3 dB beamwidths of 35 and 38° in the <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">E</tex> - and <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">H</tex> -planes, respectively. The gain (measured in microwave simulation) is 12.8 dB. This antenna is well suited for integration with Schottky diodes. The related subject of FIR waveguides is discussed. Experiments with metal transmission lines at 119 μm are described and dielectric guides related to the waveguide antenna are also considered. Using components such as these it may soon be possible to construct receiver front ends for this wavelength range in integrated-circuit form.