The characteristics of millimeter-wavelength detectors based on planar Mott diodes with near-surface δ-doping operating without a constant bias are discussed. These detectors have a volt–watt sensitivity of ~1000 V/W with NEP ~ 10 pW/Hz^1/2 in the 150–250 GHz range. The obtained estimates reveal the possibility of an additional order-of-magnitude enhancement of the performance characteristics of detectors with smaller areas of the diode barrier contact.

A new approach to the creation of millimeter-wave radio imaging systems is proposed. This approach is based on the use of an array receiver consisting of a densely packed (pixel size - 4 mm) array of planar mixers located in the focal plane of a quasi-optical objective, with application of the frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar technique. It has been demonstrated that the implementation of the heterodyne type of reception makes it possible to increase the distance range of the array radio imaging system up to ~ 100 m while maintaining the angular resolution at the previous level.