Enhanced mm-Wave Frequency Up-Conversion via a Time-Varying Graphene Aperture on a Cavity Resonator

The transition to 5G and beyond has highlighted the need for efficient devices that operate at mm-wave frequencies, which require new structures and pose fabrication challenges. This paper proposes a novel non-linear antenna that combines the well-established substrate-integrated cavity (SIC) radiators and time-varying graphene for generating harmonic frequencies in the mm-wave spectrum. Graphene is represented as having a dispersive surface conductivity, while time modulation of the conductivity is introduced by varying the applied bias electric field. A modified FDTD algorithm is, additionally, used to simulate the time-varying graphene behaviour under different modulation schemes. The final antenna design involves an SIC resonator with a graphene-covered slot aperture for radiation. The numerical study highlights the effective generation of harmonics using the modulated graphene at the mm-wave regime. Finally, different modulation schemes are applied to enhance certain higher-order harmonics, demonstrating the potential of this non-linear antenna design for future mm-wave and THz frequency applications.