Integrated terahertz frequency generator

太赫兹辐射，在100 GHz至30 THz的范围内，已被研究用于天文学和分析科学。光子学和纳米技术的最新进展现在使新的THz生成技术的创新研究成为可能。一种用于太赫兹辐射的技术是通过约0.8微米的两个光入射在低温生长的GaAs光混合器上来使用外差光混合。另一种技术是利用量子级联激光器获得频率不可调谐的低温THz辐射，随着THz的降低，需要更多的级联激光器。第三种技术是在具有低输出平均功率的光具座内使用飞秒激光器。1.55微米的光子技术已经很好地建立起来，并在信息和电信部门进行了探索。我们将研究和开发一个集成的太赫兹频率发生器，通过外差光混频的两个光在大约1.55微米，以获得从100 GHz到6 THz的太赫兹辐射。该发生器由1.55微米左右的双模可调谐量子点锁相半导体激光器、高功率量子点半导体放大器、超快光混频器（低温生长InGaAs）和太赫兹天线组成。这种太赫兹发生器将具有成本效益，坚固耐用，非常紧凑和集成。THz发生器可用于传感和通信。这些应用包括（1）生物、医学和制药科学的检测，包括生物分子、药物、癌组织、DNA、药物、蛋白质和细菌，（2）半导体和其他工业应用，包括材料评估、硅太阳能电池、纳米复合材料、聚合膜和介电膜的检查以及故障分析，（3）安全筛查，包括识别每种爆炸物和麻醉剂的特征，（4）信息和通信技术，包括未来可能达到10 Gb/s的室内和室外高速无线通信;（5）地球和空间科学，包括污染分析和观测，以及气体传感;以及（6）基础科学，包括食品质量控制。

Terahertz radiation, in the range of 100 GHz to 30 THz, has been investigated for astronomy and analytical science. Recent advancements in photonics and nanotechnology are now enabling innovative research of new THz generation technologies. One technique for terahertz radiation is to use heterodyne photomixing by two lights of around ~0.8-micron incident on a low temperature grown GaAs photomixer. Another technique is to use quantum cascade lasers to obtain THz radiation with no frequency tunability and working at low temperature, and more cascade lasers are required with the decrease of THz. The third technique is to use a femto second laser within an optical bench with low output average power. Photonic technologies at 1.55 micron have been well established and explored for information and telecommunication sector. We will investigate and develop an integrated terahertz frequency generator by heterodyne photomixing of two lights at around 1.55-micron to obtain THz radiation from 100 GHz to 6 THz. The generator is composed of a dual-mode and tunable quantum-dot phase-locked semiconductor laser at around 1.55 micron, a high-power quantum-dot semiconductor amplifier, an ultrafast photomixer (low-temperature grown InGaAs) and a THz antenna. This THz generator will be cost-effective, robust, very compact, and integrated. The THz generator can be used for both sensing and communications. The applications include (1) detection of biological, medical and pharmaceutical science including biomolecules, medicines, cancer tissue, DNA, drug, proteins and bacteria, (2) semiconductor and other industrial applications including material evaluations, inspection of silicon solar cells, nanocomposites, polyfilms and dielectric films and fault analysis, (3) security screening including identifying signature of every explosive and narcotic, (4) information and communication technology including indoor and outdoor high speed wireless communications with possible 10 Gb/s in the future, (5) earth and space science including pollution analysis and observation, and gas sensing, and (6) basic science including food quality control.