Transient simulation of millimeter-wave circuits incorporating numerical device modeling

A fast convolution-based computational approach is employed to integrate nu merical solid-state device simulation with nonlinear millimeter-wave circui t simulation. Unlike pre,previous combined harmonic-balance/deviee approach es, the high-frequency circuit/physical device response is allowed to evolv e in time to its natural steady-state mode of operation, permitting insight into harmonic and parametric energy exchange, stability, load pulling, and frequency tuning effects. To demonstrate this computationally efficient ap proach, a secund-harmonic 150-GHz transferred electron oscillator is simula ted using both conventional Gunn and novel stable-depletion-layer InP devic es. The integrated det;device/circuit simulations in the time domain enable us to investigate the formation and buildup of the oscillation modes in de tail.