Image via WikipediaALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories researchers have taken the first steps toward reducing the size and enhancing the functionality of devices in the terahertz (THz) frequency spectrum.
By combining a detector and laser on the same chip to make a compact receiver, the researchers rendered unnecessary the precision alignment of optical components formerly needed to couple the laser to the detector.
The new solid-state system puts to use the so-called “neglected middle child” frequency range between the microwave and infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Terahertz radiation is of interest because some frequencies can be used to “see through” certain materials. Potentially they could be used in dental or skin cancer imaging to distinguish different tissue types. They also permit improved nondestructive testing of materials during production monitoring. Other frequencies could be used to penetrate clothing, and possibly identify chemical or biological weapons and narcotics.
Since the demonstration of semiconductor THz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) in 2002, it has been apparent that these devices could offer unprecedented advantages in technologies used for security, communications, radar, chemical spectroscopy, radioastronomy and medical diagnostics.
Until now, however, sensitive coherent transceiver (transmitter/receiver) systems were assembled from a collection of discrete and often very large components. Similar to moving from discrete transistor to integrated chips in the microwave world and moving from optical breadboards to photonic integrated circuits in the visible/infrared world, this work represents the first steps toward reduction in size and enhanced functionality in the THz frequency spectrum.
The work, described in the current issue (June 27, 2010) of “Nature Photonics,” represents the first successful monolithic integration of a THz quantum-cascade laser and diode mixer to form a simple, but generically useful, terahertz photonic integrated circuit — a microelectronic terahertz transceiver.
With investment from Sandia’s Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program, the lab focused on the integration of THz QCLs with sensitive, high-speed THz Schottky diode detectors, resulting in a compact, reliable solid-state platform. The transceiver embeds a small Schottky diode into the ridge waveguide cavity of a QCL, so that local-oscillator power is directly supplied to the cathode of the diode from the QCL internal fields, with no optical coupling path.
The Sandia semiconductor THz development team, headed by Michael Wanke, also included Erik Young, Christopher Nordquist, Michael Cich, Charles Fuller, John Reno, Mark Lee — all of Sandia Labs — and Albert Grine of LMATA Government Services, LLC, in Albuquerque. Young recently joined Philips Lumileds Lighting Co., in San Jose, Calif.
The paper is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NPHOTON.2010.137 . Abstracts are available to everyone; full text only to subscribers.
Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.
Sandia news media contact: Neal Singer, nsinger@sandia.gov (505) 845-7078
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MY NOTE: THE SANDIA LABS PRESS RELEASE FAILS TO MENTION THEIR USE OF THE TRUE "FIRST" TERAHERTZ SYSTEM TO REDUCE BOTH SIZE AND ENHANCE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF TERAHERTZ, THE T-4000.
Advanced Photonix, Inc. Announces T-Ray 4000 Terahertz System Orders from Major Research Institutions
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jun 11, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Advanced Photonix, Inc.(R) (AMEX: API) announced today that it has received purchase orders totaling more than $800,000 for T-Ray 4000(TM) Terahertz systems from leading university and government research labs in North America, including Rice University and Sandia National Laboratory.
Picometrix(R), LLC, an API company, has been the leader in Terahertz (THz) imaging and spectroscopy systems since 2000, when it introduced the world's first commercially available Terahertz system, the T-Ray 2000(TM). The T-ray 4000(TM), introduced in 2007, is the Company's 4th generation system and represents a significant leap forward in commercial capability over previously available systems. It is more than twice as powerful as its predecessor system, weighs 90% less, is approximately 20 times smaller, is rugged enough to ship through airport checked baggage, and is a third less costly. The T-ray 4000(TM) is a modular system that is suitable for the research application development market as well as the industrial quality and process control non-destructive testing markets.
The T-Ray 4000(TM) is a compact, high-resolution, high-speed, modular THz spectroscopy and imaging system that weighs approximately 50 pounds, is the size of a briefcase, and is suitable for either transmission or reflection mode applications. The system's modular design enables it to be easily adapted to end user and OEM requirements for on-line quality control and serves as a platform for the more demanding defense and homeland security applications.
Richard Kurtz, Chairman and CEO of API, stated, "We believe the T-Ray 4000(TM) continues to be the most advanced system in Terahertz technology. It greatly increases the productivity of the research scientist, which will ultimately help us accelerate the development and adoption of our Terahertz products in commercial and industrial applications. These sales to the research market represent the front end of the technology adoption cycle, and the beginning of the product revenue ramp in the first half of fiscal 2009."
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