An Efficient Technique for the Optimization of Submillimeter-wave Schottky-diode Harmonic Multipliers

A simple and efficient modified harmonic-balance technique is presented. This new algorithm is suitable for the large-signal time-dependent analysis of nonlinear millimeter wave circuits. The accurate design and successful implementation of very high frequency nonlinear circuits requires both a detailed understanding of the physical operation of the active devices and of how these nonlinear devices interact with the linear embedding circuit. This work addresses the specific task of establishing a robust simulation tool that combined this novel modified harmonic-balance circuit analysis technique with a physicsbased hydrodynamic transport model device simulator. A comparison with the accelerated fixed-point (AFP) harmonic-balance technique has been made through an evaluation of a Schottky-diode multiplier. The result shows that this approach can be used to realize improved multiplier operation with a minimal time of numerical computation.