Ultra-wideband and inexpensive glow discharge detector for millimeter-wave wireless communication based on upconversion to visual light.

Data traffic is increasing rapidly, especially on wireless channels, pushing the carrier frequency to the X, K, and millimeter-wave (MMW) bands. This requires development of new technologies and communication components operating at those bands. The detectors and receivers for those bands are very expensive, have high sensitivity to electrostatic discharge, and can be damaged by high incident power.