THz optical components and systems

Research Project, 2011 – 2016

The objectives and goals of the research project are to develop new THz receiver topologies and quasi-optical components for future satellite based radiometer instruments. This will further establish a state-of-the-art THz receiver design capability at Omnisys and in Sweden. Antenna coupling and calibration subsystems, especially optimised for a particular instrument and task, will be developed and demonstrated. There are two key aspects of the work, developing new, innovative components and solutions, but also to design these parts enabling efficient integration of systems, including front-ends, back-ends etc. In systems designed today, different components are designed and implemented independently by different groups with little regard to system level performance and integration aspects. In this project, we aim to co-design and optimise front-end optics from an overall system perspective. We will develop calibration components and subsystems for different frequency bands between 50-600 GHz. This includes novel waveguide switches and thermally well controlled, high performance terminations as well as novel quasi-optical beam switches and quasi-optical thermally controlled termination loads. In addition, these subsystems and components will be integrated together with other functions in the same mechanical enclosures, improving performance and reliability at the same time as reducing size, mass and cost.