Figure 1

The superlattice parametric oscillator (SPO). (a) Principle. (b) Experimental arrangement; cross sectional areas $2.54\mathrm{mm}\times 1.27\mathrm{mm}$ (pump waveguide) and $0.8\mathrm{mm}\times 0.4\mathrm{mm}$ (third harmonic waveguide), separation between the waveguides 0.2 mm. (c) SPO coupled to an external resonator with a wire grid partial reflector; $m$, parabolic mirrors. (d) Superlattice electronic device (SLED); cross sectional and top views. (e) Experimental $I\mathrm{\text{−}}U$ curve measured with a static-voltage source and Esaki-Tsu curve; $I_p$ ($\sim 0.7\mathrm{mA}$), peak current (peak current density $200\mathrm{kV}/\mathrm{cm}$), and $U_c$ ($\sim 0.2\mathrm{V}$), critical voltage.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 2

Third harmonic signal ($S_3$) for different pump power levels ($P_1$) at a third harmonic frequency near 291 GHz; $P_c$, critical pump power corresponding to the onset of negative differential resistance and $P_{\mathrm{th}}$, SPO pump threshold. Inset: $S_3$ relative to the maximum signal ($S_{3,m}$) at constant pump power ($P_1\sim P_{\mathrm{th}}$; frequency 290.700 GHz) for different values of the loss $\beta =T=1-R$ in the modified arrangement; $T$, transmissivity, and $R$, reflectivity of the grid.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 3

Frequency characteristics. (a) Characteristics of the SPO without (left) and with (right) external resonator at a grid reflectivity of 0.5. (b) $S_3$ signal measured over a large frequency range ($P_1\sim 4\mathrm{mW}$).Reuse & Permissions

Figure 4

Voltages and currents involved in the parametric oscillation.Reuse & Permissions