Monolithic Integrated Terahertz Frequency Generator

智力优势：有许多潜在的重要应用需要无线电频谱的太赫兹区域中的电磁能量。这些包括非常短距离的高度安全的电信和皮肤细胞的皮下成像。太赫兹区域一直难以进入，它远高于晶体管的范围，远低于激光器的范围。获得太赫兹发射的一种方法是在光混合器中将两个激光束混合（外差）在一起。虽然这已经在实验室中用分立激光器和散装光学元件证明，但实际应用需要简单，紧凑和坚固的光源。本计划的目标是一个太赫兹频率发生器芯片。研究人员将在单个衬底上实现两个可调谐二极管激光器，一个光混合器和一个THz辐射元件。该计划的智力价值包括开发一种特别有用的太赫兹光电集成电路。该计划还提供了一个新的合作研究工作，涉及资深教授，在光子器件的经验，和一个新的年轻教授和她的学生，在新的外延生长过程的经验。更广泛的影响：这项研究将有利于当代生活的几个方面，并为影响信息时代，未来的医疗保健和国土安全提供基础设施。此外，它将为下一代科学家和工程师提供灵感和培训，特别是本科生，他们将与研究生导师沿着参与日常研究。代表性不足的群体的参与将通过将光学材料科学带给年轻人来提高，并实施一项“教老师”的计划。“一名K-12教师每年将参与该计划，使他们能够了解有关研究和这些技术的第一手资料。他们的学生将受益于那些已经成为他们榜样的人的启发。

Intellectual Merit: There are a number of potentially important applications that require electromagnetic energy in the terahertz region of the radio spectrum. These include very short range highly secure telecommunications and the subcutaneous imaging of skin cells. The terahertz region has been difficult to access it is well above the range of transistors and well below that of lasers. One method for obtaining terahertz emission is to mix (heterodyne) two laser beams together in a photomixer. While this has been demonstrated with discrete lasers and bulk optical components in a laboratory, practical applications require a simple, compact, and robust source. The objective of this program is a terahertz frequency generator chip. The investigators will implement on a single substrate two tunable diode lasers, a photomixer, and a THz radiating element. The intellectual merit of this program includes development of a particularly useful optoelectronic integrated circuit for terahertz generation. This program also provides for a new collaborative research effort involving a senior professor, with experience in photonic devices, and a new young professor and her students, with experience in novel epitaxial growth processes.Broader Impacts: This research will benefit several facets of contemporary life and provide infrastructure for impacting the information age, future health care, and homeland security. In addition, it will provide inspiration and training for the next generation of scientists and engineers, particularly undergraduate students, who will be involved in day-to-day research along with a graduate student mentor. The participation of underrepresented groups will be enhanced by bringing optical materials science to younger people with a program to "teach the teacher." A K-12 teacher will be involved in this program each year allowing them to learn first hand about research and these technologies. Their students will benefit from the inspiration of those who are already their role models.