Millimeter/submillimeter mixing based on the nonlinear plasmon response of two-dimensional electron systems

Abstract

The nonlinear plasmon response of a two-dimensional electron system with an incorporated defect to monochromatic and bichromatic microwave radiation has been investigated. The operation of an electronic device (mixer) based on the plasmon response with a record operational speed has been demonstrated and analyzed. It has been found that the system response time is no more than τ = 25 ps. It has been shown that the nonlinear response of the system is caused by a new physical mechanism of nonlinearity induced by the presence of an inhomogeneity in the electron system. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd 2009.