Properties of Building and Plastic Materials in the THz Range

We present measurements of the frequency dependent refractive index and absorption coefficient of a variety of common building and plastic materials between 100 and 1000 GHz. Accurate knowledge of the material parameters is indispensable for the modeling of bound media propagation phenomena including single and multiple reflections, transmission, diffraction and scattering effects. These models are for example required for a reliable channel simulation to investigate signal propagation in future wireless communication systems operating with Gigabit data rates at frequencies above 100 GHz. Also, the measured material parameters can be used for the investigation and development of THz system components.     

Cobalt-Based Ferrites Characterization Using Two Different Terahertz Time-Domain Spectrometers

We report an experimental study of the electrical properties of manganese cobalt (MnCo) and nickel cobalt (NiCo) ferrites in the terahertz (THz) frequency band. The study is motivated by the potential of MnCo, NiCo, and other magnetic ceramics for the fabrication of active and passive devices for THz wave communications. Using two different terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy systems, we characterized the optical constants of cobalt ferrites doped with manganese and nickel in the technologically important 0.2–1 THz frequency band. The MnCo and NiCo ferrites investigated in our study exhibit a lower refractive index and absorption coefficient in the 0.2–1 THz frequency band than commercial strontium ferrite. We observed that using different valency ion oxide leads to a sudden change of the refractive index as a function of sample stoichiometries. Our experimental results provide evidence that microwave ferrite technology can be extended to the THz frequency band.     

Resonant Terahertz InSb Waveguide Device for Sensing Polymers

We have demonstrated the possibility of employing a device, designed to operate at terahertz (THz) frequencies, for sensing materials. The device consists of a waveguide section with a pair of stubs located at the middle and oriented transversely to the waveguide axis. The two stubs function as a resonator and, hence, the device would behave as a filter in the THz domain. The device was fabricated by laser micromachining of InSb pellets and was characterized by THz time-domain transmission spectroscopy. For a waveguide width of 740 μm and stub length of 990 μm, a transmission minimum is seen to occur at 0.265 THz. We investigated the capability of the device to sense polystyrene, dissolved in toluene, loaded into the stubs. The consequent change in the refractive index in the stubs alters the transmitted signal intensity. Our results show that, a change in concentration of polystyrene even by 1 mol/L, leads to measurable change in the transmission coefficient close to the resonant frequency of the device. Thus, our device operating at THz frequencies shows promising potential as chemical and bio sensors.     

Effects of Scattering on THz Spectra of Granular Solids

Experimental studies of granular solids have shown that significant scattering effects restrict the accurate determination of material absorption in the terahertz (THz) region. The present work investigates the grain size dependent scattering contribution on the extinction spectra of Ammonium Nitrate, flour and salt between 0.2 to 1.2 THz using THz time-domain spectroscopy. The scattering contribution can be estimated by applying Mie theory for spherical grains. The approach essentially separates the independent contributions of true absorption and scattering losses and thus determines the total extinction for different grain sizes of various materials. The separation of the intrinsic material absorption from scattering losses shows that the frequency dependence in weakly absorbing materials is predominantly particle size dependent. Consequently, that range of THz frequencies cannot be used to differentiate granular solids having no intrinsic absorption.     

Broadband Terahertz Refraction Index Dispersion and Loss of Polymeric Dielectric Substrate and Packaging Materials

In the effort to push the high-frequency performance of electronic circuits and signal interconnects from millimeter waves to beyond 1 THz, a quantitative knowledge of complex refraction index values and dispersion in potential dielectric substrate, encapsulation, waveguide, and packaging materials becomes critical. Here we present very broadband measurements of the real and imaginary index spectra of four polymeric dielectric materials considered for use in high-frequency electronics: benzocyclobutene (BCB), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), the photoresist SU-8, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Reflectance and transmittance spectra from ~ 3 to 75 THz were made using a Fourier transform spectrometer on freestanding material samples. These data were quantitatively analyzed, taking into account multiple partial reflections from front and back surfaces and molecular bond resonances, where applicable, to generate real and imaginary parts of the refraction index as a function of frequency. All materials showed signatures of infrared active organic molecular bond resonances between 10 and 50 THz. Low-loss transmission windows as well as anti-window bands of high dispersion and loss can be readily identified and incorporated into high-frequency design models.     

High Current Responsivity and Wide Modulation Bandwidth Terahertz Detector Using High-Electron-Mobility Transistor for Wireless Communication

A high-current-responsivity terahertz (THz) detector was fabricated using a broadband bow-tie antenna and an InAlAs/InGaAs high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) with a short gate length. High-current responsivity can be achieved by using a short gate length; the resulting high transconductance exhibited ballistic transport in the channel. We fabricated the HEMT detector with a 50-nm-long channel; the transconductance was 1.2 S/mm and the subthreshold slope was 120 mV/dec, yielding a high-current responsivity (～5 A/W) and a cutoff frequency of 460 GHz. We also measured the modulation bandwidth of the THz detector using a heterodyne mixing technique with a uni-traveling carrier photodiode (UTC-PD) for providing the radio frequency (RF) and a frequency multiplier as a local oscillator. The intensity of the intermediate signal (IF) was measured by changing the frequency of the UTC-PD; very high bandwidths of up to 26 GHz were obtained. The experimental results agree well with electromagnetic simulations, which indicate that the bandwidth is determined by the external circuit. The conversion gain from RF to IF was ?2 dB in the heterodyne mixing by using the HEMT detector.     

Detection of Methomyl,a Carbamate Insecticide,in Food Matrices Using Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of detecting methomyl, a carbamate insecticide, in food matrices (wheat and rice flours) using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). In the frequency range 0.1–3 THz, the characteristic THz absorption peaks of methomyl at room temperature were detected at 1 (33.4 cm^?1), 1.64 (54.7 cm^?1), and 1.89 (63.0 cm^?1)?THz. For detailed spectral analysis, the vibrational frequency and intensity of methomyl were calculated using solid-state density functional theory to mimic molecular interactions in the solid state. Qualitatively, the simulated spectrum was in good agreement with the experimental spectrum. Analysis of the individual absorption modes revealed that all of the features in the THz spectrum of methomyl were mainly generated from intermolecular vibrations. The peak appearing at 1 THz (33.4 cm^?1) was then selected and tested for its suitability as a fingerprint for detecting methomyl in food matrices. Its absorbance was dose-dependently distinguishable from that of wheat and rice flours. The calibration curve of methomyl had a regression coefficient of >0.974 and a detection limit of <3.74 %. Accuracy and precision expressed as recovery and relative standard deviation in interday repeatability were in the ranges 78.0–96.5 and 2.83–4.98 %, respectively. Our results suggest that THz-TDS can be used for the rapid detection of methomyl in foods, but its sensitivity needs to be improved.     

Temperature Dependence of Crystal Structure and THz Absorption Spectra of Organic Nonlinear Optical Stilbazolium Material for High-Output THz-Wave Generation

A stilbazolium material comprising 4-dimethylamino-N′-methyl-4′-stilbazolium tosylate (DAST), which has a large nonlinear optical susceptibility, was studied for application in terahertz (THz)-wave generation. The temperature-dependent structure of the DAST crystal was measured by using powder X-ray diffraction from ?100 to 200 °C, indicating a volume expansion of 4.6 %. The lattice constants show anisotropic thermal expansion. Also, the temperature dependence of THz absorption spectra was measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) in the temperature range varying from ?80 to 88.1 °C. A strong absorption peak was found at around 1 THz, shifting slightly toward a lower frequency with increasing temperature. The temperature dependence of the THz spectra was compared with that of X-ray diffraction. The shifting of THz-vibrational frequencies of the DAST crystal suggests that the change in its lattice structure is temperature dependent.     

Terahertz Multivariate Spectral Analysis and Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Three Pyrethroid Pesticides

The terahertz (THz) multivariate spectral characteristics and the molecular dynamics of three pyrethroid pesticides, including deltamethrin, fenvalerate, and beta-cypermethrin, were studied in this paper. THz spectra of the pesticides were measured in frequency range of 0.06–3.5 THz by using THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). To improve the THz spectral quality, the wavelet threshold de-noising (WTD) method was used to remove spectral noise and the spectral baseline correction (SBC) method was used to remove baseline drift. Specific absorption peaks were observed in the processed THz spectra of the three pesticides. Deltamethrin showed three peaks at 0.90, 1.49, and 2.32 THz. Fenvalerate had five peaks at 1.13, 1.43, 1.61, 1.98, and 2.58 THz. Beta cypermethrin had four peaks at 1.27, 1.84, 2.12, and 2.92 THz. The density functional theory (DFT) was used to characterize the molecular dynamics and formation mechanism of the absorption peaks. Results showed that there was a good matching effect between the THz experimental spectra and the DFT quantum calculation spectra. Based on the characterized fingerprint absorption peaks, the linear addition model was used to simulate the THz spectra of mixed pesticides. The simulated spectra of multicomponent pesticides were demonstrated to be in good agreement with those obtained by THz-TDS. By analyzing the absorption peaks of THz spectra, the composition and concentration of multicomponent pesticides could be determined. The proposed strategy presented an analytical methodology for studying the THz spectral characteristics of pesticides. In addition, this work provided experimental and theoretical basis for the detection potential of pesticides in agricultural products based on THz technology.     

Generation of frequency-tunable light and frequency reference gridsusing diode lasers for one-petahertz optical frequency sweep generator

Generation of frequency-tunable light and frequency reference grids in a wide frequency span for a diode laser based optical frequency sweep generator has been performed. Frequency tuning and noise characteristics in nonlinear frequency conversions have been discussed. By using AlGaAs, InGaAsP lasers and their frequency conversions in the type II angle phase-matching KTP crystal, highly coherent frequency-tunable outputs have been obtained from 600 THz (0.5 μm) to 170 THz (1.7 μm). Use of the DFB lasers ensures the continuous tuning with a frequency range as wide as 1 THz. Atomic potassium and molecular iodine absorption resonances have been employed as frequency references for stabilizing the frequencies of lasers and the generated light with the frequency stability of 10^-9-10^-10. Optical frequency comb generation has been realized at the 0.8 μm wavelength with a two-sided sidebands span of 4 THz. We have also proposed and demonstrated specific frequency-tunable systems based on sum and difference-generations of diode lasers     

Generation of Terahertz Radiation from Fe-doped InGaAsP Using 800 nm to 1550 nm Pulsed Laser Excitation

We demonstrate efficient generation of terahertz (THz) frequency radiation by pulsed excitation, at wavelengths between 800 and 1550 nm, of photoconductive (PC) switches fabricated using Fe-doped InGaAsP wafers, grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Compared to our previous studies of Fe-doped InGaAs wafers, Fe:InGaAsP wafers exhibited five times greater dark resistivity to give a value of 10 kΩ cm, and Fe:InGaAsP PC switches produced five times higher THz power emission. The effect of Fe-doping concentration (between 1E16 and 1.5E17 cm^?3) on optical light absorption (between 800 and 1600 nm), on resistivity, and on THz emission is also discussed.     

A Comprehensive Study of Albumin Solutions in the Extended Terahertz Frequency Range

Sensitivity of the THz frequency range to the solutions of biomolecules originates from the decrease of absorption and dispersion of water in its bound state. Correct measurement and interpretation of the THz spectra of water-containing samples is still a challenging task because the reliable relaxation model for such spectra is not well established. The transmission and the attenuated total internal reflection geometries data were combined for precise analysis of the spectra of the aqueous solutions of bovine serum albumin within the range 0.05–3.2 THz. We compare the concentration dependencies of the dielectric function at “low,” “middle,” and “high” frequency and do not confirm an anomalous increase in absorption for concentrations below 17 mg/mL published by other teams.     

A simplified tunable frequency interval optical frequency comb generator using a single continuous-wave laser

We propose and demonstrate a simplified and tunable frequency interval optical frequency comb (OFC) generator based on a dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (DD-MZM) using a single continuous-wave (CW) laser and low-power radio frequency (RF) driven signal. A mathematical model for the scheme is established. The 21- and 29-mode OFCs with frequency interval ranging from 6 GHz to 40 GHz are obtained under DD-MZM driven by a low-power RF signal within a maximum bandwidth of 1.12 THz. The generated OFCs exhibit spectral flatnesses of less than 0.5 dB and 0.8 dB within bandwidths of 160 GHz and 400 GHz, respectively.     

High Resolution Terahertz Spectroscopy with Quantum Cascade Lasers

High resolution terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool for laboratory purposes as well as for remote sensing in astronomy, planetary research, and Earth observation. THz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are promising sources for implementation into THz spectrometers, in particular at frequencies above 3 THz, which is the least explored portion of the THz region. One application of QCLs in THz spectroscopy is in absorption spectrometers, where they can replace less powerful and somewhat cumbersome sources based on frequency mixing with gas lasers. Another one is using a QCL as local oscillator in a heterodyne spectrometer for remote sensing. This article will review the state-of-the art in high resolution THz spectroscopy with QCLs.     

Kilowatt-peak Terahertz-wave Generation and Sub-femtojoule Terahertz-wave Pulse Detection Based on Nonlinear Optical Wavelength-conversion at Room Temperature

Intense Terahertz (THz)-wave generation and highly sensitive THz-wave detection were obtained by wavelength conversion with nonlinear optical susceptibility χ⁽²⁾ of LiNbO₃ crystals. Maximum peak output of about 50 kW (5 μJ/pulse) was demonstrated in an injection-seeded THz-wave parametric generator pumped by post-amplified emission from a microchip Nd:YAG laser. Using the sub-nanosecond pulse duration of the laser proposed herein provides effective mitigation of stimulated Brillouin scattering in LiNbO₃, producing higher gain for wavelength conversion between near-infrared (near-IR) pump light and THz waves. Monochromatic THz radiation was obtained in the continuous tuning range of 0.7–2.9 THz. Additionally, highly sensitive THz-wave detection was demonstrated based on up-conversion from THz waves to near-IR light as well as efficient THz-wave generation. The signal generated with non-collinear phase-matching condition showed spectroscopic detection on the screen apart from the LiNbO₃ crystal. Highly sensitive detection with minimum energy of about 80 aJ/pulse (0.8 μW at peak) and a large dynamic range of more than 100 dB were achieved in this experiment.     

Contactless Transient THz Temperature Imaging by Thermo-transmittance Technique on Semi-transparent Materials

THz waves have shown to be effective for several applications, such as security, non-destructive testing, and water content monitoring for porous materials and food products. This study aims to highlight the use of THz radiation to measure temperature variations of thin insulating materials opaque in the visible or IR range (PVC, PTFE, PMMA, and wood) by using a spectral thermo-transmittance technique. THz wave optical transmittance in materials show high sensitivity to temperature variations. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the transient temperature gradient dependence of THz transmitted signals inside materials to develop a new contactless method for measuring temperature of thin materials semi-transparent to THz radiation. The principle is based on synchronous detection, using an infrared camera coupled with a THz to infrared thermal converter (TTC) with modulated millimeter-scale waves (2.7 mm). The results show a correlation between the transient temperature and the optical transmittance coefficient. Several types of samples semi-transparent to THz radiation are tested, and the corresponding thermo-transmittance coefficients as reported for PVC, PTFE, PMMA, and wood are respectively 0.805, 0.395, 0.640, and 1.177 K^?1 m^?1.     

Compact Tunable Narrowband Terahertz-Wave Source Based on Difference Frequency Generation Pumped by Dual Fiber Lasers in MgO:LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

We demonstrate a high-average-power, single longitudinal-mode, and tunable terahertz (THz)-wave source based on difference frequency generation (DFG) in a MgO:LiNbO₃ (MgO:LN) crystal. The waves for DFG are generated using a pair of Yb-doped pulsed fiber lasers with a master oscillator power fiber amplifier configuration. The average power of the THz-wave output reaches 450 μW at 1.07 THz (280 μm) at a linewidth of 7.2 GHz, and the tunability ranges from 0.35 to 1.07 THz under the pulse repetition frequency of 500 kHz. A short burn-in test of the THz wave is also carried out, and the output power stability is within ± 5% of the averaged power without any active stabilizing technique. The combination of MgO:LN-DFG and stable and robust fiber laser sources is highly promising for the development of high-average-power THz-wave sources, particularly in the high transmission sub-THz region. This approach may enable new applications of THz-wave spectroscopy in imaging and remote sensing.     

Study of Lasing Action in a Pulsed Optically Pumped D<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Gas Terahertz Laser

A modified three-level laser kinetics model for a pulsed high-power optically pumped gas terahertz laser is introduced and used to model the lasing kinetics process of a gas terahertz laser system. We, for the first time to our knowledge, investigated the time evolution dynamics process of the pump intensity, population distribution among the energy levels, pump and THz signal gain coefficient, and the THz laser intensity within the pulsed D₂O gas THz laser. High-power THz pulse with peak power of about 7.4 kW and pulse width of 145 ns at wavelength of 385 μm were obtained in the simulation, using an incident pump pulse with peak power of 2.2 MW and pulse width of 110 ns. THz pulse delay of 40 ns and pulse broadening of 35 ns were quantitatively analyzed. In addition, the experimental results for the pulse profile, pulse width, pulse broadening, pulse energy, and peak power are in agreement with the theoretical simulation results.     

Wide-span optical frequency comb generator for accurate opticalfrequency difference measurement

An optical frequency comb (OFC) generator was realized for accurate optical frequency difference measurement of 1.5 μm wavelength semiconductor lasers by using a high frequency LiNbO₃ electrooptic phase modulator which was installed in a Fabry-Perot cavity. It was confirmed that the span of the OFC was wider than 4 THz. By using semiconductor lasers whose spectrum linewidths were narrowed to 1 kHz and a sensitive optical balanced-mixer-receiver for measuring beat signal between the sideband of the comb and the laser, we demonstrated a frequency difference measurement up to 0.5 THz with a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 61 dB, and a heterodyne optical phase locking with a heterodyne frequency of 0.5 THz in which the residual phase error variance was less than 0.01 rad². The maximum measurable frequency difference, which was defined as the sideband frequency with the signal-to-noise ratio of 0 dB, was estimated to be 4 THz     

Terahertz Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystals and Films

Terahertz (THz) radiation properties of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films, a CNC powder, and a dissolving pulp film are examined using THz time-domain spectroscopy. The relative permittivity (real component) of the CNC samples are found to vary between 1.78 and 3.81, over the frequency range of 0.2–1.5 THz, despite the fact that they are made from the same linear chain of glucose monomers. The results show that the permittivity is strongly dependent on the source from which the CNC glucose monomers are extracted, as well as on the drying process used. The THz loss tangent (0.043?<?tan(δ)?<?0.145), absorption coefficient (3.5 cm^?1?<?α?<?63.7 cm^?1), and growth-varying permittivity, combined with other appealing thermal and mechanical characteristic of CNC, make such material attractive for use in both passive and potential THz bandwidth electronic components.