Additively manufactured multi-spectral NIR-THz sensor systems

该项目旨在开发一种增材制造的多光谱传感器系统，该系统具有低成本、一次性或可重复使用的传感器元件，可用于光谱学和生命科学。紧凑的光子-太赫兹（THz； 100 GHz-10太赫兹）协集成传感器将同步捕获近红外范围（~1550 nm；近红外）和太赫兹范围（0.1太赫兹- 1.25太赫兹，可能扩展到2太赫兹）的光谱数据，同时仅使用一个近红外激光系统驱动传感器的两个部分。太赫兹系统将是一个纯差光合成装置。传感器系统将由增材制造的近红外和太赫兹范围的介质波导电路组成。实际的传感器元件和光子骨干都将由波导结构和器件组成，如分路器或进出耦光学器件，这些将在WP1中开发。太赫兹波导材料将是TOPAS，聚乙烯，聚丙烯或高冲击聚苯乙烯。对于近红外域PLA，将使用高清玻璃或ABS。衬底将是聚乙烯、石英或金属化石英玻璃。WP2侧重于具有足够灵敏度的传感器元件。针对三种不同的系统架构：架构i将针对低或中等吸收的测试样品进行定制，例如油。将实现谐振器结构。架构ii将专注于高太赫兹吸收的测试样品。传感器将是一个微流体电池。架构i和ii的传感器元件将是一次性的。架构iii将是一个可重复使用的传输、全内反射或基于反射的设置，在共平行的近红外和太赫兹波导的尖端集成了一个有源传感器元件。在WP3中，该系统将与有源结构（源和接收器）集成，以便进行基准测试应用。为了验证该系统的功能，我们将重点放在与生命科学相关的物质上，如油中的维生素、水中的糖以及更复杂的物质。将实施分析模型，以便区分几种与生命科学有关的物质混合物。在该项目中开发的技术将具有进一步传感器技术和集成近红外和太赫兹系统的巨大潜力。该项目将在达姆施塔特工业大学（Sascha Preu）的太赫兹设备和系统实验室（Sascha Preu）和Ostwestfalen-Lippe （Oliver st<s:1> bbe）之间的合作下进行，前者在太赫兹光谱学和介电太赫兹波导方面具有丰富的经验，后者在光学元件的增材制造以及光通信和传感器系统方面具有长期的背景。

The proposed project aims for the development of an additively manufactured, multi-spectral sensor system with a low cost, disposable or reusable sensor element for applications in spectroscopy and life sciences. The compact, photonic-Tearhertz (THz; 100 GHz-10 THz) co-integrated sensor will synchronously capture spectroscopic data in the near infrared range (~1550 nm; NIR) and in the THz range (0.1 THz- 1.25 THz with potential extension towards 2 THz) whilst using only one NIR laser system driving both parts of the sensor. The THz system will be a homodyne photomixing setup. The sensor system will be composed of additively manufactured dielectric waveguide circuitry for both the near infrared as well as the Terahertz range. Both the actual sensor element as well as the photonic backbone will be composed of such waveguide structures and components like splitters or in- and outcoupling optics that will be developed in WP1. THz waveguide materials will be TOPAS, polyethylene, polypropylene or high impact polystyrene. For the NIR domain PLA, HD glass or ABS will be used. The substrate will be polyethylene, quartz or metallized quartz glass. WP2 focuses on the sensor elements with sufficient sensitivity. Three different system architectures are targeted: Architecture i will be tailored to samples under test with low or medium absorption, such as oils. Resonator structures will be implemented. Architecture ii will focus on samples under test with high THz absorption. The sensor will be a microfluidic cell. The sensor element of architecture i and ii will be disposable. Architecture iii will be a reusable transmission, total internal reflection, or reflection-based setup, with an active sensor element integrated at the tip of a co-parallel NIR and THz waveguide. In WP3, the system will be integrated with active structures (sources and receivers) in order to carry out benchmarking applications. To verify the capabilities of the system we focus on life-science-relevant substances such asvitamins in oils, sugars in water and also more complex substances. Analytical modelswill be implemented in order to discriminate several mixtures of lifescience-relevant substances. The technologies developed in this project will have large potential for further sensor technologies and integrated NIR & THz systems. The project will be carried out in a collaboration between the Terahertz Devices and Systems Laboratory of TU Darmstadt (Sascha Preu) with profound experience in THz spectroscopy and dielectric THz waveguides and the TH Ostwestfalen-Lippe (Oliver Stübbe) with a long-term background in additive manufacturing of optical components and in optical communication and sensor systems.