Proposal of a new type of non-linear component for harmonic extraction

A new electronic device is proposed. which relies on the periodic charge tr ansfer between two neighbouring 2 DEG quantum wells (2-Dimensional Electron Gas). The nonlinearity is produced primarily by the termination of the cha rge transfer at the points of the half positive and at the half negative pa rt of a period of an applied fundamental frequency (similar to the old step -recovery diode). Additionally, a small non-linearity is produced by the tr ansition from a purely thermionic to a thermionic plus tunnelling discharge current. This component does not need a bias voltage and is therefore part icularly suited for Terahertz-quasioptics. The simulation results are descr ibed.