Design of Antenna Integrated Photomixers and Catadioptric Lenses for Emerging THz Applications

Övrigt konferensbidrag, 2008

We will present design and modeling of antenna integrated photomixers for terahertz generation. In addition, the design and the quasioptical integration a novel catadioptric dielectric lens, suitable for imaging applications, will be presented. Although having a tremendous potential, the terahertz (0.1 – 10 THz) regime in the frequency spectrum and its applications are hindered due to the lack of viable and high power terahertz sources. This has led to the term “terahertz gap” being coined. We aim to construct compact sources utilizing the lens-coupled antenna-integrated photomixer sources based on Uni-Travelling-Carrier Photomixers (UTC-PD). These sources are one of the key components which could significantly bridge the terahertz gap. However, optimization of the epitaxial layer structure of the UTC-PD is necessary for high-power THz generation. The epilayers of the UTC-PD is designed and optimized in TCAD. Antennas are designed using HFSS while the impedance of the antenna at a specific bandwidth from HFSS is used to optimize the UTC-PD epilayers and vice versa. Thus proper impedance match and therefore high power THz generation is possible. A novel catadioptric dielectric lens is designed and characterized using HFSS. The lens provides an alternative solution to be used as a focusing element and therefore suitable for imaging or similar applications. In fine, we aim to combine the photomixer source and the lens in order to attain compact but powerful THz sources.