平面天线在场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器中的应用

为了提高场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器的响应度并降低噪声等效功率,需要对探测器集成平面天线的结构进行合理设计与优化,本文对集成平面天线结构的场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器的研究进行了深入调研。首先,对场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器的工作原理进行了分析,介绍了集成平面天线如何解决耦合太赫兹波效率低的问题。然后,介绍了一些常用的平面天线结构,包括偶极子天线、贴片天线、缝隙天线、grating-gate和其他类型的结构,比较了各种天线的性能以及引入后对太赫兹探测器响应度的影响。通过对比不同天线结构的探测器响应度和噪声等效功率等参数指标,发现:采用平面天线结构之后,场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器的响应度有了大幅度的提升,各种类型的天线对探测器响应度都有不同程度的提升。本文着重介绍了几种集成于场效应晶体管的平面天线结构,包括各种天线的性能和研究进展,最后分析了场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器存在的问题和发展趋势。     

NOVEL TERAHERTZ PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ANTENNAS

The photoconductive (PC) antenna is a key device for the recent terahertz (THz) photonics based on laser-pumped generation and detection of THz radiation. In this paper we report on two new types of PC antennas: the Schottky PC antenna and the multi-contacts PC antenna. The former one is able to detect THz radiation intensity without the time-delay scan and useful for applications where spectroscopic information is not important, such as the THz intensity imaging. The latter one is useful for the polarization sensitive THz spectroscopy, such as the THz ellipsometry. The characteristic features of these new types of PC antennas are studied by using a THz time-domain spectroscopy system.     

Design considerations for rectangular microstrip patch antenna on electromagnetic crystal substrate at terahertz frequency

The effects of 2-D electromagnetic crystal substrate on the performance of a rectangular microstrip patch antennas at THz frequencies is simulated. Electromagnetic crystal substrate is used to obtain extremely broad-bandwidth with multi-frequency band operation of the proposed microstrip antennas. Multi-frequency band microstrip patch antennas are used in modern communication systems in order to enhance their capacity through frequency reuse. The simulated 10 dB impedance bandwidth of the rectangular patch microstrip antenna is 34.3% at THz frequency (0.6–0.95 THz). The radiation efficiency, gain and directivity of the proposed antenna are presented at different THz frequencies. The simulation has been performed using CST Microwave Studio, which is a commercially available electromagnetic simulator based on finite integral technique.     

光子学太赫兹源研究进展

为了进一步开发、利用高功率、高效率、可调谐且在室温下稳定运转的太赫兹(THz)源,介绍、分析了国内外利用光子技术产生THz波的研究进展,包括THz气体激光器、空气等离子体THz源、光电导天线以及基于非线性光学效应的光学整流、光学差频、参量振荡等THz源,并指出了光子学THz源未来发展所面临的困难和需要解决的关键技术。     

光电导天线辐射阻抗特性模拟分析(英文)

针对连续太赫兹光电导天线辐射功率较低的缺点,利用有限积分方法对三种常用的光电导天线,包括偶极天线、蝶形天线和螺旋天线,进行数值模拟并分析比较其辐射阻抗特性.仿真结果表明,偶极天线的辐射阻抗与偶极长度、宽度、电极间隙以及传输线宽度有关,且在其谐振频率存在峰值阻抗,适用于特定频率的太赫兹波辐射.蝶形天线和螺旋天线在所研究的太赫兹波段具有近似稳定的辐射阻抗,广泛应用于宽带领域.对带有交叉电极的电极间隙进行计算,结果表明由交叉电极引入的附加电容降低了天线的高频阻抗.     

Mixing of 28 THz (10.7 μm) CO2-laser radiation by nanometer thin-film NiNiONi diodes with difference frequencies up to 176 GHz

Difference frequencies up to 176 GHz between CO₂-laser transitions at 28 THz (10.7 μm) are generated by thin-film nanometer-scale Ni---NiO---Ni diodes (MOM, MIM) with integrated bow-tie antennas and rhodium waveguides. A signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 47 dB was measured for a 58.7 GHz difference frequency and a 100 kHz bandwidth, while a S/N ratio of 14 dB was observed for a 176.2 GHz difference frequency and a 300 kHz bandwidth. The frequencies reported are considerably higher than those reported previously for thin-film diodes. The comparison of the mixing signals for the antenna parallel and perpendicular to the E-polarization of the infrared radiation yields a ratio of over 34 dB. These results imply the extension of millimeter-wave techniques to the infrared.     

Terahertz-wave generation in a conventional optical fiber

We theoretically propose surface-emitted and collinear phase-matched terahertz (THz)-wave generation in a conventional optical fiber. The third-order nonlinear effect, four-wave mixing (FWM), is used to generate THz waves in an optical fiber. Surface-emitted THz-wave generation via FWM is realized using a single-mode fiber. Perfect phase matching is obtained at ~800 nm and 1.5 microm pumping, and it follows that third-order polarization in an optical fiber has the same phase at any point. In this situation, the optical fiber acts like a phased array antenna of the THz wave. Collinear phase-matching THz waves are obtained under the same conditions as for surface-emitted THz waves, and the THz wave is propagated in the silica cladding of the optical fiber. This is a promising method for realizing a reasonable THz-wave source.     

Analysis of graphene based optically transparent patch antenna for terahertz communications

With and without multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) loaded graphene based optically transparent patch antennas are designed to resonate at 6 THz. Their radiation characteristics are analyzed in 5.66–6.43 THz band. The optically transparent graphene is deployed as the patch and ground plane of the antennas, which are separated by a 2.5 μm thick flexible polyimide substrate. By shorting the microstrip line and ground plane of the antenna with a MWCNT via, the return loss of the antenna is improved. The peak gain of 3.3dB at 6.2 THz and a gain greater than 3dB in 5.66–6.43 THz band is obtained for antenna loaded without MWCNT. Both the antennas achieved a −10dB impedance bandwidth of 12.83%. Gain, directivity and radiation efficiency of the proposed antennas are compared with conventional transparent patch antennas and graphene based non-transparent antennas. The antenna structures are simulated by using finite element method based electromagnetic simulator-Ansys HFSS.     

Analytical framework of small-gap photoconductive dipole antenna using equivalent circuit model

A compact planar antenna sources with on-chip fabrication and high directivity in order to achieve large depth-of-field for better image resolution is the prospective demand for THz imaging application. Therefore, the small-gap photoconductive dipole antennas have been explored to fulfil such applications demand. However, there are certain modalities for improving the photoconductive dipole antenna performance which need to identify to accomplish high THz average radiated power and improved total efficiency. The unit-cell small-gap photoconductive dipole antenna radiation power enhancement methods need to optimize the design parameters with photoconductive material selection from theoretical simulation. Further, the potential improvement of coupling efficiency of THz wave with air as well as femto-second laser incident efficiency is also important parameters to enhance the radiation power of small-gap photoconductive dipole antenna. In this paper, we have presented an analytical procedure employing explicit mathematical expression leading to the physical behaviour of small-gap photoconductive dipole antenna. The effects of biased lines on the antenna performance parameters are discussed with the help of proposed equivalent circuit model. We have explored the effect of gap-size on the THz radiated power and on total radiation efficiency from the proposed photoconductive dipole antennas.     

Optimization of Circular Ring Microstrip Antenna Using Genetic Algorithm

Circular ring microstrip antennas have several interesting properties that make it attractive in wireless applications. Although several analysis techniques such as cavity model, generalized transmission line model, Fourier-Hankel transform domain and the method of matched asymptotic expansion have been studied by researchers, there is no efficient design tool that has been incorporated with a suitable optimization algorithm. In this paper, the cavity model analysis along with the genetic optimization algorithm is presented for the design of circular ring microstrip antennas. The method studied here is based on the well-known cavity model and the optimization of the dimensions and feed point location of the circular ring antenna is performed via the genetic optimization algorithm, to achieve an acceptable antenna operation around a desired resonance frequency. The antennas designed by this efficient design procedure were realized experimentally, and the results are compared. In addition, these results are also compared to the results obtained by the commercial electromagnetic simulation tool, the FEM based software, HFSS by ANSOFT.     

典型大气窗口太赫兹波传输特性和信道分析

在已有大气传输模型的基础上,发展了新的太赫兹波大气传输衰减与色散模型,对宽频太赫兹波在真实大气中传输的衰减和色散特性进行了数值模拟研究.改进太赫兹时域光谱技术,对0.3—2.0 THz频段太赫兹波的大气传输特性进行了透射光谱测量,并得到了一组连续吸收参数.比对发现实验窗口区强度和吸收峰的位置都与计算结果符合得很好.据此选取了三个可行的信道:340,410和667 GHz窗口区,利用线性色散理论和无线通信原理分别从物理上精确地计算了这些信道的群速色散参数和信道容量,并分析了影响最大传输数据率的因素-天线增益.研究结果表明:太赫兹波大气传输1 km时,这三个信道群速色散很小,信号不易被展宽;最大传输速率达十几Gbps,高于单模光纤,但需要更高的天线增益.     

Terahertz band: Next frontier for wireless communications

This paper provides an in-depth view of Terahertz Band (0.1–10 THz) communication, which is envisioned as a key technology to satisfy the increasing demand for higher speed wireless communication. THz Band communication will alleviate the spectrum scarcity and capacity limitations of current wireless systems, and enable new applications both in classical networking domains as well as in novel nanoscale communication paradigms. In this paper, the device design and development challenges for THz Band are surveyed first. The limitations and possible solutions for high-speed transceiver architectures are highlighted. The challenges for the development of new ultra-broadband antennas and very large antenna arrays are explained. When the devices are finally developed, then they need to communicate in the THz band. There exist many novel communication challenges such as propagation modeling, capacity analysis, modulation schemes, and other physical and link layer solutions, in the THz band which can be seen as a new frontier in the communication research. These challenges are treated in depth in this paper explaining the existing plethora of work and what still needs to be tackled.     

单发太赫兹时域光谱技术

太赫兹时域光谱技术(THz-TDS)广泛应用于材料、生物医学、化学、药学、安检等诸多领域。传统扫描式THz-TDS技术需要通过改变探测光延时逐点扫描并重构时域信号,仅适合于具有较高重复频率且稳定的太赫兹辐射源情形下的样品探测。在低重复频率或涨落较大的太赫兹辐射源情形下和不可逆过程中样品的探测,扫描式THz-TDS不再适用,需要使用单发THz-TDS技术,单发THz-TDS技术原则上仅需要一个激光脉冲就可以获取一个完整的太赫兹时域脉冲波形。介绍几种主要的单发THz-TDS探测技术,这些技术都利用了电光晶体的泡克尔斯效应,通过测量探测光的某个物理量的变化来提取太赫兹信号。根据探测方法不同可分为光谱编码、空间编码和互相关等技术。在光谱编码技术中,探测光不同频率成分在时间上发生分离,不同时间成分分别被太赫兹脉冲不同时刻电场调制,通过测量探测光各个频率被太赫兹脉冲调制前后的光谱的变化提取太赫兹脉冲波形。该方法光路简单,测量结果直观,有较高的信噪比,但其时间分辨率较低,且被测太赫兹信号容易产生失真。为提高被测信号的时间分辨率,有人提出了空间编码技术,即不同位置探测光分别被太赫兹脉冲不同时刻电场调制,通过测量探测光各个位置太赫兹脉冲调制前后的光强变化提取太赫兹脉冲波形。根据不同空间展开方法可分为一维空间编码技术和二维空间编码技术。空间编码技术中虽然有较高的时间分辨率,但由于探测光在空间展开能量分散使得其信噪比相对较低。此外,还有一种较高时间分辨率的技术即互相关技术,可分为共线互相关和非共线互相关技术。在非共线互相关技术中,被太赫兹脉冲调制的激光啁啾脉冲与短脉冲互相关作用产生二次谐波,通过太赫兹脉冲调制前后二次谐波空间分布变化来提取太赫兹信号;在共线互相关技术中被太赫兹脉冲调制的啁啾脉冲与短脉冲共线入射到光谱仪,通过干涉条纹提取太赫兹信号,该技术提高了时间分辨率和信噪比,但光路布置复杂,不能进行实时监测。回顾了这几种单发THz-TDS探测技术的发展历程,综述探测技术的原理、实验方案和测量结果,并讨论了这些探测技术的优势和不足。     

Enhancement of terahertz photoconductive antenna operation by optical nanoantennas

Photoconductive antennas are promising sources of terahertz radiation that is widely used for spectroscopy, characterization, and imaging of biological objects, deep space studies, scanning of surfaces, and detection of potentially hazardous substances. These antennas are compact and allow for generation of both ultrabroadband pulses and tunable continuous wave terahertz signals at room temperatures, with no need for high‐power optical sources. However, such antennas have relatively low energy conversion efficiency of femtosecond laser pulses or two close pump wavelengths (photomixers) into the pulsed and continuous terahertz radiation, correspondingly. Recently, an approach to solving this problem that involves known methods of nanophotonics applied to terahertz photoconductive antennas and photomixers has been proposed. This approach comprises the use of optical nanoantennas for enhancing the absorption of pump laser radiation in the antenna gap, reducing the lifetime of photoexcited carriers, and improving the antenna thermal efficiency. This Review is intended to systematize the main results obtained by researchers in this promising field of hybrid optical‐to‐terahertz photoconductive antennas and photomixers. We summarize the main results on hybrid THz antennas, compare the approaches to their implementation, and offer further perspectives of their development including an application of all‐dielectric nanoantennas instead of plasmonic ones.

     

Evaluation of nano-slot antenna for mid-infrared detectors

To improve the response performance of superconducting infrared detectors, we propose using a photonic antenna with a micro-detector in conjunction with a nano-structure. In this paper, we report evaluation results that show the basic characteristics of a photonic antenna in the mid-infrared region. The antenna consists of a nano-slot antenna and a thin-film load resistance placed in the center of the antenna. The antennas were designed for operation at approximately several tens of THz by using an electromagnetic simulator. Through measurements of the spectral reflectance characteristics, clear absorptions caused by the antenna properties were observed at approximately 50 THz, and high polarization dependencies were also observed. The results of the simulation qualitatively agreed with the results of the experiment. The effective area of the antenna was also evaluated and was found to be approximately 3.5 μm² at 54 THz.     

Two-stage deep learning-based hybrid precoder design for very large scale massive MIMO systems

Wireless networking is approaching a new era, which necessitates new frequency ranges and novel strategies. With recent circuit growth, communications over the Terahertz (THz) band is proving to be a viable option because of the tremendous bandwidth and low cost. On the other hand, THz signals suffer from significant direction loss, necessitating the use of precoding. In this paper, Deep Learning (DL) based precoding techniques for upcoming 6G networks were examined, along with their complexities. Based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral efficiency (SE), the proposed DL-based precoding scheme is compared to traditional model-based precoding schemes. The proposed DL-based precoding technique is ideal for 6G networks, according to simulation results. Furthermore, the proposed DL-based precoding technique has lower computational complexity, making it suitable for parallel processing and high-speed data transmission.     

Generation of THz radiation using bulk, periodically and aperiodically poled lithium niobate – Part 1: Theory

Optical rectification of femtosecond pulses in nonlinear materials is an efficient method to generate ultra short terahertz (THz) pulses over a wide frequency range extending from 100 GHz to well above 10 THz. Lithium niobate is particularly well suited for such purposes and can be used both in bulk and periodically poled forms. Different optical techniques for the generation of THz pulses are presented and compared theoretically. The whole discussion is performed for the interaction of gaussian beams using the radiating antenna approach that takes into account the diffraction of the THz wave, and therefore may predict the THz emission in a direction that differs from the optical pulse propagation. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.70.Mp; 42.72.Ai     

碳纳米管光学天线的有效波长和谐振特性

将经典金属自由电子气模型应用于金属型碳纳米管, 基于光学天线有效波长理论, 得出了金属型碳纳米管光学天线响应的有效波长与碳纳米管介电特性之间的普适关系. 在对碳纳米管介电特性进行第一性原理计算的基础上, 以金属型4 Å碳纳米管为例, 进一步研究了金属型碳纳米管光学天线响应的有效波长与入射波长之间的关系, 以及金属型碳纳米管光学偶极子天线的谐振特性. 通过将已有传统金属光学天线和碳纳米管天线有效波长的研究结果进行对比, 验证了本文理论的正确性. 结果表明, 碳纳米管光学天线响应的有效波长与入射波长呈近似线性关系, 与传统金属材料构成的同直径光学天线相比, 碳纳米管天线显示出了更强的波长压缩能力, 并且在可见光到红外波段内易于发生谐振. 该研究方法可为碳纳米管光学天线研究提供新的思路.     

WIDE RANGE DETECTOR USING PARABOLIC CYLINDRICAL MIRROR FOR THz APPLICATIONS

A new, wide-band, high-speed and high-sensitivity THz detector has been developed. The prototype detector consists of a parabolic cylindrical mirror, a long wire antenna and a Schottky barrier diode. Direct detection measurements have shown a stable sensitivity of 150 ± 50 V/W for 1–2 THz without any adjustments. The long wire antenna was fixed at the focus of parabolic cylindrical mirror then it has been realized less operation steps, easy coupling to the external THz signals and a dramatic enhancement in the practicality of this system. The optically polished mirror and frosted surface one showed comparable sensitivities, thus easy polishing and less cost mirror fabrication can be applied for this system. The radiation pattern showed a maximum radiation angle of approximately 23° with its dominant main lobe, which was attributed to the wire antenna character and confirmed good agreements with classical antenna theory.     

天线阻抗特性对开关振荡器输出脉冲的影响

以单锥天线和螺旋天线作为开关振荡器辐射天线为例,采用等效电路模型和商业电磁仿真软件,分别对天线末端电压振荡信号和辐射电场脉冲进行了研究。研究结果表明:采用行波天线或者电长度与振荡器一致的振子天线作为辐射天线,都能够产生中心频率与振荡器本征频率一致的电磁脉冲信号;但采用振子天线时,振荡信号持续时间较短(Q值较低),频谱上能量较分散,带宽较宽,而采用行波天线则脉冲持续时间较长(Q值较高),频谱上能量较集中,带宽较窄。