A noise generator for generating multi-octave, high-level, millimeter- and
submillimeter-wave noise is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the
invention, the noise generator includes: a microwave noise source; a
microwave power-amplifier chain; a level-set attenuator; a frequency
multiplier; and a transmission structure. The output of the generator has
a high-intensity noise power spectrum over a frequency range from about 60
GHz to about 1 THz. This type of noise is particularly suited and has
sufficient power for testing and calibrating millimeter- and
submillimeter-wave components, devices, and circuits; material evaluation
and characterization; and for use as a broadband millimeter- and
submillimeter-wave noise source for a Fourier Transform Spectrometer.
