Terahertz (THz) Frequency Sources and Antennas - A Brief Review

In this paper we review THz radiation properties, generation methods, and antenna configurations. This paper suggests some new class of antennas that can be used at THz frequency, like optical antennas or Carbon nanotube antennas. THz technology has become attractive due to the low energy content and nonionizing nature of the signal. This property makes them suitable for imaging and sensing applications. But at the same time detection and generation of THz signals has been technologically challenging. This paper presents a comparative study of the generation techniques for THz frequency signals giving emphasis to the some new techniques like Quantum Cascade lasers which has created significant research interest. The main aim for this study is to find out the materials suitable for fabricating THz devices and antennas, a suitable method for generation of high power at THz frequency and an antenna that will make THz communication possible.     

小孔径蝴蝶型光电导天线太赫兹辐射源的研究

研究了5种小孔径光电导天线的太赫兹发射特性,并且对它们所发射的太赫兹波进行了对比,为研制高效率的太赫兹波发射源提供了参考依据。利用太赫兹时域光谱技术测量了光电导天线发射的太赫兹（THz）脉冲,得到了时域发射光谱,并通过快速傅里叶变换得到相应的频域光谱。结果表明,太赫兹信号强度随偏置电压的增大而增强;随着泵浦激光功率的增大而增强并出现饱和现象。偏置电压与泵浦激光功率相同时,我们对比5种光电导天线产生的太赫兹信号,从中找到了一种发射效率较高的小孔径光电导天线,并且研究了电极形状、电极间距对光电导天线发射效率的     

宽带太赫兹偶极子光电导接收天线研究

太赫兹光电导天线广泛应用于宽带脉冲太赫兹波的检测,是太赫兹光谱和成像系统中的重要器件。偶极子光电导天线由于其结构简单、制作容易成为使用最广泛的一类太赫兹光电导接收天线。衡量太赫兹光电导探测天线的一个重要指标是其响应带宽。针对偶极子天线的探测带宽,分别对天线臂长为10、50、150 m的偶极子天线及一种作为对比的178 m的蝶形天线（Bowtie antenna）进行了实验及理论研究。结果显示其探测带宽随天线臂长增加而减小,与微波天线理论一致。进一步的,采用商用电磁场数值仿真软件进行建模仿真,仿真结果与理论及实验结果具有很好的一致性,证实数值仿真已在很大程度上模拟出实际天线的特性,从而为优化结构参数制作大宽带和高灵敏度的太赫兹天线提供支持。同时,对超半球硅衬底透镜对天线接收频谱的影响也进行了探讨。     

太赫兹光电导天线发射装置的优化设计

为了研究金属纳米狭缝对太赫兹光电导天线辐射功率的影响,基于时域有限差分法对太赫兹波通过金属狭缝时的增强特性进行了分析计算,研究了太赫兹波通过金属纳米狭缝电场的增强幅度与狭缝宽度和太赫兹波频率之间的规律。结果表明,在太赫兹光电导天线发射装置上增加一个纳米狭缝能够增强太赫兹波的发射功率,频率为0.1THz的太赫兹波通过70nm宽度金属狭缝时,辐射功率最大可以增强800倍。该研究结果对太赫兹光电导天线结构的改进有一定的借鉴意义。     

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.     

小孔径螺旋型光电导天线的太赫兹辐射特性研究

研究了小孔径螺旋型光电导天线的太赫兹辐射特性.利用太赫兹时域光谱技术测量了螺旋型光导天线辐射的太赫兹波谱,得到了其时域发射光谱.通过快速傅里叶变换得到相应的频域光谱,同时对两种不同孔径螺旋天线的太赫兹辐射特性进行了比较.实验结果表明,太赫兹信号强度会随偏置电压的增大而增强;在偏置电压和泵浦光功率相同的情况下,较小孔径的...     

Terahertz Radiation-Band Engineering Through Spatial Beam-Shaping

We propose a terahertz (THz)-band engineering technique based on generation of specifically designed time-domain radiation. The desired time-domain radiation is formed by combining the time-delayed outputs of an array of photoconductive antennas. We have employed this technique to generate tunable narrowband THz radiation. By using an array of identical photoconductive antennas with identical spacings, we have demonstrated a 12.5-mW output peak-power over 0.05-THz bandwidth and a tuning range of 0.65–1.4 THz. Considering the 2.5-THz bandwidth of each individual photoconductive antenna, 50 times higher power efficiency is achieved as a result of radiation-band shaping.      

太赫兹波混合器设计

太赫兹波（THz）是频率介于毫米波与红外光之间的辐射。本文设计了一种太赫兹波混合器,通过透镜将太赫兹波聚焦到124×124热释电列阵相机,并对其所生成的图像进行计算机优化处理,同时,对有无透镜情况下的电场模值分布进行了仿真模拟比较。     

THz antennas design,developments, challenges,and applications: A review

Terahertz (0.1–10 THz) wireless communication will be the future technology to reach a top-notch data rate. THz is one of the most promising candidates for 6G systems because it provides enormous bandwidth, up to 100 GHz, and a massive data rate of up to 1 Tbps. THz antennas, antenna arrays, and MIMO antenna arrays in 6G are hot research topics for implementing 6G wireless communication systems. The 6G aims to continue to enhance the features of the 5G as it is capable of achieving the maximum high-speed data rate, excellent reliable communication, massive connectivity, and very low latency connectivity. The 6G requirements need high-gain antenna arrays and MIMO antenna arrays to combat the effect of atmospheric losses in high frequencies. An in-depth discussion of the planar THz antennas that have been extensively used in THz applications like imaging, sensing, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) has been conducted. The study of the THz antennas, antenna arrays, and MIMO antennas on different conducting materials such as copper and graphene, which are designed on different dielectric substrates such as polyimide, quartz, liquid crystalline polymer, and polytetrafluoroethylene, has been carried out in detail. Metamaterial, photoconductive, plasmonic antennas, and THz beamforming are significant parts of THz communications. This paper also provides antennas and antenna arrays based on them.     

Terahertz Yagi-Uda Antenna for High Input Resistance

This paper presents the design of terahertz Yagi-Uda antennas with high input resistance. The proposed Yagi-Uda antennas can achieve much higher input resistance than existing THz antennas by using a full-wavelength straight-line dipole and a full-wavelength U-shaped dipole as driver elements. Current leakage into the bias line was minimized by applying photonic bandgap structures at the bias line. By designing the antennas on a thin substrate, end-fire radiation patterns with high antenna resistance can be obtained even when the substrate has a high dielectric constant. We expect that the proposed Yagi-Uda antennas can achieve increased terahertz output power by improving their capacity for impedance matching with a photomixer.     

Terahertz Radiation Shaping Based on Third-Order Dispersion and Self-Phase Modulation in Standard Single-Mode Optical Fiber

Third-order dispersion and self-phase modulation in standard single-mode fibers are employed in a fiber-based THz time domain spectroscopy system for radiation shaping. Ultra-short optical pulses are converted into trains of pulses, thus shaping the THz radiation emitted by photoconductive antennas operating at telecom wavelengths. The proposed architecture allows narrowband and wideband THz emission as well as tunability of the central frequency. Since the shaping takes place in standard optical fiber the architecture could be potentially implemented without requiring any additional device. Experiments showing the principle of operation have been performed demonstrating tunability of the central frequency between 350 and 800 GHz and bandwidth from 150 GHz to the full bandwidth of the system.     

Photoconductive Emission and Detection of Terahertz Pulsed Radiation Using Semiconductors and Semiconductor Devices

Recent studies on the techniques and development of photoconductive (PC) semiconductor devices for efficient generation and detection of terahertz (THz) pulsed radiation are reported. Firstly, the optimization of PC antenna design is discussed. The PC detection of THz pulsed radiation using low-temperature grown GaAs with 1.55-μm wavelength probe is then described. Finally, the enhancement of THz radiation from InSb by using a coupling lens and magnetic field is investigated. These results reveal valuable insights on the design of an efficient, compact, and cost-effective THz time-domain spectroscopy system based on 1.55-μm fs laser sources.     

Analysis of terahertz waveforms measured by photoconductive andelectrooptic sampling

Terahertz (THz) waveform measurements by photoconductive (PC) sampling and free-space electrooptic sampling (FS-EOS) are analyzed and quantitatively compared. Our data suggest that a short dipole antenna used in a PC receiver contributes a flat frequency response when used without a substrate lens and a jω response when used with a substrate lens, for the specific THz frequency range and optical system investigated in our experiments. These findings are explained using results from basic antenna theory. Experiments testing our theory for a variety of THz waveforms (obtained by using different THz emitters and simple as well as shaped optical excitation pulses) and for different carrier lifetimes are also presented. Finally, we demonstrate near-field effects in the PC sampling measurements of broad-band THz waveforms and explore the evolution of THz radiation from the near field into the far field     

大间隙GaAs光导天线的太赫兹辐射频谱特性

从麦克斯韦方程出发,采用电涌模型对用飞秒激光触发大间隙光导天线产生的太赫兹脉冲远场辐射特性进行研究。文章分析了大间隙GaAs光电导天线的天线电极形状和参数、天线间隙对产生的THz脉冲频谱特性的影响。用制作不同间隙、天线形状的光导天线进行产生THz辐射的实验,仿真实验结果表明:大间隙光导天线的带宽为0.1 THz～2 THz,不同的电极形状主要影响1 THz～2 THz频段内的THz信号幅值;间隙更小的光导天线的频谱带宽稍宽,而且在1 THz以上的高频段信号略高一些。     

Nonuniform Luneburg and two-shell lens antennas: radiationcharacteristics and design optimization

Design optimization of radially nonuniform spherical lens antennas is the focus of this paper. In particular, special attention is given to the optimal design of nonuniform Luneburg (1964) lens antennas. One of the important engineering objectives of designing an optimal Luneburg lens antenna is to use as small number of shells as possible while maintaining an acceptable gain and sidelobe performance. In a typical radially uniform design, by reducing the number of shells, the gain is decreased and the grating lobes are increased. This deficiency in the radiation performance of the uniform lens antenna can be overcome by designing the nonuniform lens antenna. This necessitates the optimum selection of each layer thickness and permittivity. A genetic algorithm (GA) optimizer with adaptive cost function is implemented to obtain the optimal design. In this manner, the GA optimizer simultaneously determines the optimal material and its thickness for each shell by controlling the gain and sidelobes envelope of the radiation pattern. Various lens geometries, including air gaps and feed offset from the lens surface, are analyzed by using the dyadic Green's functions of the multilayered dielectric sphere. Many useful engineering design guidelines have been suggested for the optimum construction of the lens. The results have been satisfactory and demonstrate the utility of the GA/adaptive cost-function algorithm. Additionally, the radiation characteristics of a novel two-shell lens antenna have been studied, and its performance is compared to the Luneburg lens     

用光电导天线产生太赫兹电磁波的饱和效应研究

根据半导体光电子学理论,分析了光注入非平衡载流子(电子-空穴对)的瞬态输运机理,研究了不同条件下的SI-GaAs光电导偶极天线太赫兹波辐射功率和辐射强度的饱和效应.结果表明其主要原因是在外加偏置电场作用下,光注入载流子出现了空间电荷电场屏蔽和辐射电场屏蔽现象,对提高太赫兹波辐射功率和辐射强度起到了遏制作用.对于电极间隙大小不同的天线,两种屏蔽效应的作用不同;在触发光能一定的情况下,照射光斑较大时屏蔽效应较小.     

Conical Double-Dielectric Fresnel Zone Lens and Antenna

A conical double-dielectric phase-reversal Fresnel-zone plate (FZP) lens is introduced. We present the lens design equations as functions of cone opening angle. As an example, the phase-reversal lens has been applied to four millimeter-wave antennas with different lens opening semi-angles: 45deg, 60deg, and 75deg (conical lenses) and 90deg (plane lens). The radiation characteristics of these antennas have been calculated and contrasted one-to-another, and to those with the same semi-angles and linear dimensions binary (half-open) FZP lens antennas. The double-dielectric FZP conical arrangement can serve as a conical antenna lens and a radome simultaneously     

Ku波段TM01模介质透镜加载天线

随着高功率微波技术的发展,适用于辐射高功率轴对称模的天线备受关注。基于一般圆锥喇叭天线多用于TE11模的辐射,对TM01的辐射存在缺陷,针对高功率、小型化、较高增益以及最大辐射方向在天线轴向的要求,提出一种多扇区介质透镜天线,介质采用扇形台阶的形式加载在喇叭天线口径的前端,可以进行相位补偿,并使得天线的方向性变好。利用HFSS仿真软件分析表明,所设计的Ku波段的透镜天线具有较好的方向性和增益。     

高辐射强度的带THz扼流圈的偶极天线阵列模拟分析

为了提高太赫兹辐射强度, 设计了带THz扼流圈的偶极天线阵列.模拟结果表明, 增加直线阵的阵元数对平均匹配效率影响很小, 却能线性增加相干辐射强度.加入THz扼流圈可减小进入到传输线的交流分量, 进而减小共振频率的偏移, 使平均匹配效率提升了两倍.相比于网格排列的平面阵, 交错排列的阵元在垂直方向上具有更小的耦合, THz发射谱更窄.通过使用聚酰亚胺透镜代替硅透镜, 可有效提高输入电阻, 并将总效率由25%提高到35%.     

基于场效应晶体管的太赫兹探测器中天线设计的一种有效方法

在场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器中,合理的天线设计可以增强晶体管和太赫兹波之间的耦合效率,从而提高太赫兹探测器的响应度.提出一种基于晶体管栅极边缘沟道电场的仿真来设计平面天线的方法.这种方法尤其适用于太赫兹波段晶体管输入阻抗不容易得到的情况.通过流片完成的基于氮化镓高电子迁移率晶体管的太赫兹探测器的响应度测试证实了这种方法的有效性.集成碟形天线和双偶极子天线的太赫兹探测器最大响应度分别在170.7 GHz(1568.4 V/W)和124.3 GHz(1047.2 V/W)频点处测得,这个测试结果接近基于晶体管栅极边缘沟道电场的仿真结果.