Detection of a directly modulated terahertz light with quantum-well photodetector

We demonstrate a wireless transmission link at 3.9 THz over a distance of 0.5 m by employing a terahertz （Hz） quantum-cascade laser （QCL） and a THz quantum-well photodetector （QWP）. We make direct voltage modulation of the THz QCL and use a spectral-matched THz QWP to detect the modulated THz light from the laser. The small signal model and a direct voltage modulation scheme of the laser are presented. A square wave up to 30 MHz is added to the laser and detected by the THz detector. The bandwidth limit of the wireless link is also discussed.     

Real-time video signal transmission over a terahertz communication link

A 2.4-m communication link operating at 3.9 THz based on a terahertz quantum cascade laser and a terahertz quantum well photodetector （THz QWP） are introduced. The lumped electrical models of THz QWP for small signals are presented. A discussion of the bandwidth limit of the detecting circuit is presented. Using direct on off-keying modulation and intensity detection, the transmission of digital video signal with a data rate of 2.5 Mb/s is demonstrated. Pseudo-random binary sequences are transmitted to investigate the bit-error rate （BER） at different rates. Result shows the error free transmission when the rate is below 5 Mb/s.     

太赫兹通信技术研究进展

对未被分配的空闲频谱资源的需求增长,将不可避免地使无线通信系统的工作频率向更高频率的太赫兹(THz)频段发展。大数据的瞬时传输将采用更高的载波频率,以满足高传输速率的需求。大量的研究表明,THz技术在通信领域的应用与当今比较成熟的微波通信和光纤通信相比,具有更多的优点,比如说,传输速率高,方向性好,安全性高,散射小,以及穿透性好等。文章总结了THz通信的特点及其适用领域,综述了近几年国际上THz通信研究最新进展,给出了未来THz通信系统可能的发展趋势。