SBIR Phase I: High Resolution Tunable Receiver For Remote THz Sensing

这项SBIR第一阶段研究项目将证明在半导体纳米器件中基于电子加热的廉价高分辨率可调太赫兹(THz)接收器的可行性。该纳米传感器将由一个低迁移率的通道组成，该通道由砷化铝/砷化镓(AlGaAs/GaAs)二维电子气组成。所提出的可调谐廉价的外差探测器(混频器)将在0.3-30太赫兹范围内的中等冷却温度(~77K)下工作。该装置具有噪声低、光谱覆盖范围广、探测器与现有固态本地振荡器技术兼容等优点。拟议的系统将提供有关大气状况的关键信息，帮助划定污染范围，并监测清理工作的进展。拟议系统的概念的更广泛影响是，它非常灵活，可以适用于各种化学和生物污染物。除了环境监测外，拟议的接收器还可用于人员和手持材料的筛选。太赫兹筛查对生物来说是非侵入性和非破坏性的。爆炸物和生物制剂即使隐藏在衣服和手提箱中也能被探测和识别，因为太赫兹辐射通过衣服和行李传播。

This SBIR Phase I research project will demonstrate the feasibility of inexpensive high-resolution tunable terahertz (THz) receivers based on electron-heating in semiconductor nanodevices. The nanosensor will be composed of a low-mobility channel shaped from a Aluminum Gallium Arsenide/Gallium Arsenide (AlGaAs/GaAs) two-dimensional electron gas. The proposed tunable inexpensive heterodyne detector (mixer) will operate at moderate cooling temperatures (~77K) within the 0.3-30 THz range. The proposed device will have the advantages of low noise, broad spectral coverage, technological compatibility of the detector with available solid-state local oscillators. The proposed system will provide critical information on the status of atmosphere, aid in the demarcation of pollutions, and monitor the progress of cleanup efforts. The broader impact of the concept of the proposed system is that it is very flexible and could be applied to a variety of chemical and biological contaminants. Besides environmental monitoring, the proposed receiver can be used for screening of personnel and handheld materials. THz screening is non-invasive and non-destructive for living beings. Explosives and biological agents can be detected and identified even if concealed in clothing and suitcases because the THz radiation is transmitted through clothing and luggage.