Terahertz Technology

• Limitations

• Opportunities

• Need for THz Broad/Multi-Band Imagers

Security Space Science and Earth Observation Non-destructive testing

Our Speciality

Strategy for THz Sensors

TERA-HERTZ SENSING GROUP Department of Microelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Sciences (EEMCS)

Delft University of Technology, Building 36 (EWI), 20th Floor, Mekelweg 4, 2628 CD, Delft, Netherlands

1011 1013

Wavelength

Frequency (Hz) 109 1010

cm

Micro-Waves

1012

mm

THz

1014 1015

μm

Visible

Wireless internet a million time faster than now…

…by exploiting the entire THz spectrum

Holy Grail is Tera-bit communications

Typical broadband antennas:

• Phase Center Movement • Radiation Dispersion

We solved the problem Leaky Lens Radiation (10 years of research)

Phase Center Stable

Freak Radiation Mechanism Emerging from one point Independently from frequency !!!

Ray picture

h

R

h

R

Only non dispersive radiation mechanisms known !

• Poor sensitivity of devices • Weak-power sources

• Bandwidth: only abundant resource in THz field!

Mission: Introduce break-through Antenna Technology to revolutionize Broad Band THz imaging

Starting Grant from European Research

Council

Phase center

Low frequency

High Frequency

Phase center

Reflector

Focus

Actual need:

• Antenna with stable phase center • Antenna distribution that scales with frequency

Present Research

• Biggest Present Funding

THz

For engineers….

Internet advertisement

2 of these orders of magnitude come from the antennas

Broad Band Focal Plane Imaging

Much easier to promise than to do it !

SPICA (2020) ?

1.2-8.5 THz

Focal Plane Arrays

Advanced Antenna Architectures for THZ Sensing Instruments

• Objective 1: Optically-pumped power generation

Commercial Systems

• Objective 2: Space-science instruments

Low Frequency High Frequency

Requires membrane technology! 5mm

Lens fed by Array of Leaky Connected Slots

DIMES!

• Objective 3: THZ camera in CMOS

Shows feasibility……. very low sensitivity!

CMOS k-pixel THz camera built by Pfeiffer Wuppertal University and ST Microelectronics (France)

Department strategy

• MMIC-based mm-wave THz spectroscopy

The use of combined optical and electronics can allow the realization of truly broad-band systems with high sensitivity and narrow line detection

Earth observation ESA’s frequencies 50, 120, 180, 240, 380 GHz European level edge Push integration of Phased controlled oscillators (150 GHz controlled digitally) mixers and antennas in silicon chips

• Cryogenically cooled receivers

Many resonators

Imager elements: Antennas

• Antennas for Kinetic Inductance Detectors • Integrated receivers at 670 GHz with extreme

sensitivity

Surface Waves Problem

Micro-metric metallic inclusions

300 GHz

• Artificial Dielectric Layers

Objective: Integration of the ADL in standard CMOS processes

Support to

Terahertz sensing group (started on 1st Jan. 2012)

UD N. Llombart

UHD I. Lager

Prof. A. Neto

Postdoc D. Cavallo

2 PhD (budget available for 3 more) 3 Visiting Postdocs 1 visiting professor

June 2012