Abstract-Broadband frequency-chirped terahertz-wave signal generation using periodically-poled lithium niobate for frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar application

Junichi Hamazaki, Yoh Ogawa, Norihiko Sekine, Akifumi Kasamatsu, Atsushi Kannno,Naokatsu Yamamoto, Iwao Hosako

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (Japan)

Proc. SPIE 9747, Terahertz, RF, Millimeter, and Submillimeter-Wave Technology and Applications IX, 97471J (February 25, 2016); doi:10.1117/12.2210936

http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=2498804

We have proposed a method by using a nonlinear optical technique to generate frequency-modulated (FM) signals in the terahertz (THz) band with much broader bandwidth. Periodically-poled lithium niobates (PPLNs) are excited by ultrashort pulses, and linearly frequency-chirped THz pulses are obtained by changing the periodicity of the PPLN gradually. The bandwidth achieved is approximately 1 THz at a center frequency of 1.5 THz. Using this wave in a FM continuous (CW) radar system is expected to result in a range resolution of ~150 μm. This FM-THz signal generation technique will thus be useful in or future civil safety applications requiring high-resolution ranging or imaging. 
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