Large-area traveling-wave LT-GaAs photomixers for LO application

A new type of geometry for terahertz traveling-wave photomixers, vertically pumped free-space by two detuned continuous-wave diode lasers, is proposed and experimentally verified for devices based on low-temperature-grown GaAs (LT-GaAs). It combines the advantages of conventional interdigitated small area structures and traveling-wave devices. An output power of 1 μW at the mixing frequency of 1 THz was measured as a first result, which meets power requirements for superconducting heterodyne mixer devices.