Characterization of a microwave probe up to frequencies of 400 GHz

A microwave probe has been characterized up to frequencies of 400 GHz with time-domain sampling techniques. The complex transfer function of the probe as well as the complex reflection and transmission coefficients of transmission line discontinuities have been determined from the time-domain data. This work promotes the time-domain characterization of high-frequency components with coaxial connectors. This task requires the transfer of picosecond electrical pulses between coplanar and coaxial lines, which is often accomplished with microwave probes. Therefore, the detailed propagation characteristics of the probes have to be known for reliable time-domain characterization of coaxial high-frequency devices.