Comparison between MIM and Schottky diodes as harmonic mixers for visible lasers and microwave sources

We report our results on high order harmonic mixing between two visible lasers and microwave radiations in point-contact diodes. We have observed up to the 17th harmonic mixing order between two lasers (DELTAnu = 150 GHz) and a X-band klystron in a Schottky diode. We have been able to monitor very large laser frequency differences, up to 540 GHz (almost-equal-to 1.3 nm) with a good signal to noise ratio while using a very low power microwave source (20 mW/90 GHz). These results can be improved by using stabilized lasers and phase-locked microwave sources.