Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Sets World Record with One-Terahertz Circuit, Achieves One Trillion Cycles per Second

Center, Philip Robertson, representative, Guinness World Records, presents the world record certificate for the fastest integrated circuit amplifier to, from left, Dr. Dale Burton, sector vice president and chief technology officer, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems; Dr. Arati Prabhakar, director, DARPA; Dr. Dev Palmer, DARPA Terahertz Electronics program manager; and Dr. William Deal, Northrop Grumman Terahertz Electronics program manager. The amplifier uses 10 transistor stages to reach an operating speed of one trillion cycles per second and could lead to revolutionary technologies such as high-resolution security imaging systems, improved collision-avoidance radar, higher-capacity communications networks and advanced spectrometers. - 

http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2014/10/28/677323/10104912/en/Photo-Release-Northrop-Grumman-Sets-World-Record-with-One-Terahertz-Circuit-Achieves-One-Trillion-Cycles-per-Second.html

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – Oct. 28, 2014 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), a leader in advanced microelectronics, has developed the world's fastest integrated circuit amplifier, which has been recognized by Guinness World Records. The amplifier uses 10 transistor stages to reach an operating speed of one terahertz (1012 Hz), or one trillion cycles per second—surpassing the company's own performance record of 850 billion cycles per second set in 2012. 

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Integrated Receiver Circuit Operating at 850 GHz Under DARPA Terahertz Electronics Program

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/northrop-grumman-demonstrates-integrated-receiver-circuit-operating-at-850-ghz-under-darpa-terahertz-electronics-program-2012-07-31

Unprecedented Increase in Integrated Circuit Operating Speed is Important for Emerging Applications in Military Communications and Radar

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Jul 31, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation has demonstrated an 850 gigahertz (GHz) integrated receiver that brings the company much closer to being the first to reach a Department of Defense goal for developing transistor-based electronics that can operate at center frequencies past 1 terahertz (THz).

Company engineers reported they scaled the frequency rate to 850 GHz, or 0.85 trillion cycles per second under Phase 2 of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's (DARPA's) Terahertz Electronics program, setting a new performance record. Under Phase 1, they developed a Terahertz Monolithic Integrated Circuit that operated at 670 GHz, or 0.67 trillion cycles per second, in 2010.

"Integrated circuits operating at frequencies past 1 THz will enable submillimeter wave technology for covert, small aperture communications, high-resolution imaging and leap-ahead advancements in explosive detection spectroscopy," said Dr. William Deal, Terahertz Electronics program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "This unprecedented increase in integrated circuit operating speed is especially important for emerging applications in military communications and radar. The amplifiers and receivers we're demonstrating will enable more sensitive radar and produce sensors with highly improved resolution."

In addition to demonstrating low-noise integrated receivers under the DARPA program, the company developed and tested low-noise amplifiers and power amplifiers. "Success in the initial phase led to a $12.5 million contract, bringing the total value of the program to $28 million," Deal said.

The goal of DARPA's Terahertz Electronics program is to develop the critical device and integration technologies necessary to realize compact, high-performance electronic circuits that operate at center frequencies exceeding 1.0 THz. The program focuses on two areas: THz high-power amplifier modules and THz transistor electronics.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Northrop Grumman Corp.