HARMONIC-BALANCE METHOD APPLIED TO THE NUMERICAL ELECTRICAL PHYSICAL MODELING OF 2-TERMINAL, NONLINEAR MICROWAVE CIRCUITS IN THE FREQUENCY-DOMAIN

A numerical frequency-domain modelling of two-terminal, non-linear mic rowave circuits is presented. It basically relies on a process allowin g the solution of the frequency-domain circuit harmonic balance equati ons while accounting for the semiconductor device by means of an accur ate numerical macroscopic physical model. In its present state of deve lopment, the model allows the study of a single two-terminal device ci rcuit operating in harmonic mode. Its capabilities are illustrated by means of the results of a study devoted to the optimization of the loa d circuit configuration of a millimetre-wave avalanche diode frequency multiplier. The influence of the output load impedance level on the c ircuit output RF performance has been investigated for different input power levels in direct frequency multiplication mode and in the prese nce of additional circuit tunings at low harmonic rank idler frequenci es.