Sub-terahertz PAM4 modulator based on transmission characteristic reconstruction

K Kesen Ding (School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,) C Chunyang Bi (School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,) Y Yu Ao L Liyu Cheng (School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,) H Hailong Fang (School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,) Y Yazhou Dong (School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,) H Hongji Zhou (School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,) X Xun Wang Z Zhenpeng Zhang (The National Key Laboratory of Application Specific Integrated Circuit, Hebei Semiconductor Research Institute 4 , Shijiazhuang 050000,) S Shixiong Liang S Sen Gong (School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,) Y Yaxin Zhang (Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Synthetic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science)

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a sub-terahertz PAM4 modulator based on transmission characteristic reconstruction by combining meta-unit, GaAs Schottky diode, and fan branch lines. This method combined the significant electromagnetic resonant characteristics of meta-unit, the high-speed controllability of GaAs Schottky diode, and the high integration of on-chip transmission line together to realize high-speed modulation. Then, we achieve transmission characteristic reconstruction by adjusting the resonance strength under different applied voltages through fan branch lines, enabling high-order amplitude modulation of sub-terahertz waves. The experimental results show that the PAM4 modulation of sub-terahertz waves is achieved with a nearly linear variation of the transmission coefficient in the whole voltage range and a maximum modulation rate of 21 Gbps, providing a promising prospect for the development and application of integrated sub-terahertz direct high-order modulation technology.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 126, Issue 3
Published January 20, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

K

Kesen Ding

School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,

C

Chunyang Bi

School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,

Y

Yu Ao

L

Liyu Cheng

School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,

H

Hailong Fang

School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,

Y

Yazhou Dong

School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,

H

Hongji Zhou

School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,

X

Xun Wang

Z

Zhenpeng Zhang

The National Key Laboratory of Application Specific Integrated Circuit, Hebei Semiconductor Research Institute 4 , Shijiazhuang 050000,

S

Shixiong Liang

S

Sen Gong

School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 1 , Chengdu 610054,

Y

Yaxin Zhang

Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Synthetic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science