Magnetically driven Terahertz spectral filters and their applications

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Nowadays, impressive innovations in the field of nonlinear optics have paved the way for the realization of new reliable Terahertz (THz) sources and detectors and, only recently, fully operating devices. The aim of this collaborative Research and Development project, proposed in collaboration with our two industrial partners Novacam Technologies Inc. and QPS Photronics Inc., is to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of a series of novel devices engineered for the manipulation of THz waves. In particular, we propose to demonstrate a magnetically driven tunable spectral filter in the THz frequency range. Such a device will rely on the two-wire THz waveguide previously demonstrated by the PI. The main idea is to directly write a Bragg grating (BG) onto the metallic structure of our waveguide, thus acting as notch (i.e., rejection) filter for the broadband THz propagating pulse. With the aim of further tuning the central frequency and the linewidth of such a filter we will propose to combine our device with a particular class of magnetic materials, named Ferrofluids, which are mostly transparent in the THz range. Ferrofluids have the property to change their refractive index when biased by an external static magnetic field. By embedding such materials in the structure of the BG, we will finally achieve a filter whose spectral response can be modified in real-time (i.e., dynamically), in function of the applied external magnetic fields, thus allowing a low loss reshaping of the THz pulse bandwidth. We believe that the compact and affordable dynamically tuned THz spectral filters we intend to develop in this project will play a key role in the forthcoming fields of THz imaging and next-generation high-speed wireless communications, which will consist of high speed broadband wireless data transfer within and outside buildings on short distances. Furthermore, such devices have already created a significant interest for our industrial partners who intend to significantly increase their presence on the growing THz market, by providing leading-edge products for the manipulation of THz radiation. The project results will allow Canada to increase its global share of the growing ICT market, above all in the burgeoning areas of imaging and signal processing.