Terahertz Frequency Research Articles

Optical properties and phase matching conditions of KTiOPO₄ crystals at terahertz frequencies in the temperature range of 5.8 to 300 K

Optical properties and phase matching conditions of KTiOPO₄ crystals at terahertz frequencies in the temperature range of 5.8 to 300 K

All-optical manipulation of bandgap dynamics via coherent phonons

The ability to actively and dynamically control electronic states at ultrafast timescales opens up a wide range of potential applications across optoelectronics, quantum computing and sensing, energy conversion and storage, etc. Yet, achieving dynamic electronic manipulation via coherent phonons has posed a considerable challenge. Here, employing time-resolved high-harmonic generation (tr-HHG) spectroscopy, we demonstrate the manipulation of bandgap dynamics in a BaF2 crystal by coherent phonons. The tr-HHG spectrum perturbed by a triply degenerate phonon mode T2g exhibits simultaneously a remarkable two-dimensional (2D) sensitivity, i.e., in both intensity and energy domains. The dynamic compression and enhancement of the harmonics in the intensity domain showed a π/2 phase shift compared to the manifestation of shifts of the harmonics in the energy domain, an astounding example of a physical phenomenon being observed simultaneously in two different perspectives. We employed a quantum model incorporating the electron–phonon coupling to complement our experimental observations, successfully reproducing the results. In addition, we demonstrated complete control over the strength and initial phase of the coherent phonon oscillations by varying the incident electric field polarizations across different crystal orientations. Our findings lay a foundation for engineering the electronic structure through coherent phonons within the terahertz frequency and picosecond to nanosecond time regimes.

Multifunctional Reconfigurable Vanadium Dioxide Integrated Metasurface for Reflection, Asymmetric Transmission and Cross‐Polarization Conversion in Terahertz Region

AbstractIntegrating reconfigurable and diverse functionalities into a single metasurface at terahertz (THz) frequencies is an emerging research topic that faces significant challenges. Here, a reconfigurable THz metasurface is proposed, offering diversified functionalities based on the phase transition of vanadium dioxide (). The proposed metasurface can switch from wideband reflection to wideband cross‐polarization conversion (CPC) and asymmetric transmission (AT) for linearly polarized waves. When is in its fully metallic state, the metasurface efficiently reflects normally incident waves ranging from 0.2 to 2.8 THz, with total reflection exceeding 0.8. When is in its insulating state, the metasurface achieves nearly perfect wideband cross‐polarization conversion with CPC efficiency above 0.99 from 0.46 to 2.67 THz, and excellent AT effect with efficiency over 0.9 from 0.65 to 2.29 THz for normal incidence of linearly polarized waves. Moreover, the high efficiency of CPC and AT effects is maintained over a wide range of incident angles. The proposed switchable metasurface with diverse functionalities is expected to enable cutting‐edge research and innovative applications in THz communication, sensing, and imaging.

Terahertz Resonant Emission by Optically Excited Infrared-Active Shear Phonons in KY(MoO4)2.

The generation of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz (THz) frequency range has remained a challenging task for many decades. Here, the emission of monochromatic sub-THz radiation by optical phonons in the dielectric material KY(MoO4)2 is demonstrated. The layered crystal structure of KY(MoO4)2 causes infrared-active shear lattice vibrations to have energies below 3.7meV, corresponding to frequencies lower than 900GHz where solid-state-based monochromatic radiation sources are rare. Directly excited by a 5ps long broadband THz pulse, infrared-active optical vibrations in KY(MoO4)2 re-emit narrowband sub-THz radiation as a time-varying dipole for tens of picoseconds, which is exceptionally long for oscillators with frequencies below 1THz. Such a long coherent emission allows for the detection of more than 50 periods of radiation with frequencies of 568 and 860GHz. The remarkably long decay time together with the chemical stability of the employed material suggests a variety of possible applications in THztechnology.

6G Technology for Indoor Localization by Deep Learning with Attention Mechanism

This paper explores 6G technology for indoor positioning, focusing on accuracy and reliability using convolutional neural networks (CNN) with channel state information (CSI). Indoor positioning is critical for smart applications and the Internet of Things (IoT). 6G is expected to significantly enhance positioning performance through the use of higher frequency bands, such as terahertz frequencies with wider bandwidth. Preliminary results show that 6G-based systems are expected to achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy due to the integration of advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and terahertz frequencies. In addition, this paper also investigates the impact of self-attention (SA) and channel attention (CA) mechanisms on indoor positioning systems. The combination of these attention mechanisms with conventional CNNs has been proposed to further improve the accuracy and robustness of localization systems. CNN with SA demonstrates a 50% reduction in RMSE compared to CNN by capturing spatial dependencies more effectively.

Wide spectral coverage terahertz frequency up-conversion detection with organic crystal OH1

Wide spectral coverage terahertz frequency up-conversion detection with organic crystal OH1

Microfabrication Technologies for Interaction Circuits of THz Vacuum Electronic Devices

Advances in manufacturing technology are allowing for the realization of interaction circuit with microstructures. The capability to produce small circuit structures is allowing new opportunities for vacuum electronic devices producing terahertz (THz) frequency radiation, which is impractical with traditional machining technology. This publication reviews recent progress on advanced microfabrication technologies applicable to interaction circuits of THz vacuum electronic devices, including LIGA/UV-LIGA (Ultraviolet Lithographic, Galvonoformung and Abformung), deep reactive ion etching (DRIE), micro/nano computer numerical control (CNC) milling, three-dimension (3D) printing, etc., and describes the current State-of-the-Art of their applications.

Viscoelastic-Support-Layer-Based Macroscopic Conformal Transfer of van der Waals Materials Compatible with Plasmonic Application.

This study showcases the conformal geometries of van der Waals materials with metallic structures utilizing viscoelastic support layers. Mechanically exfoliated nanometer-thick graphite flakes were transferred onto metal structures with various side slopes using two different polymers: polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene (PE). We proposed a morphology-based evaluation of the macroscale conformity that can contribute to the selection of a proper support layer. Although both support layers ensured high conformity on the sloped side, the PE layer offered superior conformity on the vertical metal structure. To further investigate the impact of conformal structures, we compared the terahertz transmission changes of a metal bowtie antenna before and after transferring graphite onto the bowtie gap for two distinct conformal structures. The conformity of graphite to the metal gap structure significantly influenced the optical response in the terahertz frequency regime. This suggests that the conformal structuring technique can be leveraged in various terahertz devices composed of metals and van der Waals materials, opening avenues for quantitative analysis in light-matter interactions.

Electronic interactions in Dirac fluids visualized by nano-terahertz spacetime interference of electron-photon quasiparticles.

Ultraclean graphene at charge neutrality hosts a quantum critical Dirac fluid of interacting electrons and holes. Interactions profoundly affect the charge dynamics of graphene, which is encoded in the properties of its electron-photon collective modes: surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Here, we show that polaritonic interference patterns are particularly well suited to unveil the interactions in Dirac fluids by tracking polaritonic interference in time at temporal scales commensurate with the electronic scattering. Spacetime SPP interference patterns recorded in terahertz (THz) frequency range provided unobstructed readouts of the group velocity and lifetime of polariton that can be directly mapped onto the electronic spectral weight and the relaxation rate. Our data uncovered prominent departures of the electron dynamics from the predictions of the conventional Fermi-liquid theory. The deviations are particularly strong when the densities of electrons and holes are approximately equal. The proposed spacetime imaging methodology can be broadly applied to probe the electrodynamics of quantum materials.

Compact Metasurface Terahertz Spectrometer

AbstractThe terahertz frequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum is crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies and stars throughout the universe's history, as well as the process of planet formation. Detecting the unique spectral signatures of molecules and atoms requires terahertz spectrometers, which must be operated in space observatories due to water vapor absorption in the Earth's atmosphere. However, current terahertz spectrometers face challenges such as low resolution, limited bandwidth, large volume, and complexity. In this paper, the issues of size and weight are addressed by demonstrating a concept for a centimeter‐sized, low‐weight terahertz spectrometer using a metasurface. The design of the metasurface spectrometer is first discussed for the 1.85 to 2.4 THz range, followed by its fabrication. Next, an array of quantum cascade lasers operating at slightly different frequencies around 2.1 THz is utilized to characterize the spectrometer. Finally, a spectrum inversion method is applied to analyze the measured data, confirming a resolution R (λ/Δλ) of at least 273. This concept can be extended to other application areas, such as planetary observations and various wavelengths in the far‐infrared (FIR) and near‐infrared (NIR) ranges.

Directional Coupling to a λ/5000 Nanowaveguide.

Silicon-based microdevices are considered promising candidates for consolidating several terahertz technologies into a common and practical platform. The practicality stems from the relatively low loss, device compactness, ease of fabrication, and wide range of available passive and active functionalities. Nevertheless, typical device footprints are limited by diffraction to several hundreds of micrometers, which hinders emerging nanoscale applications at terahertz frequencies. While metallic gap modes provide nanoscale terahertz confinement, efficiently coupling to them is difficult. Here, we present and experimentally demonstrate a strategy for efficiently interfacing subterahertz radiation (λ = 1 mm) to a waveguide formed by a nanogap, etched in a gold film, that is 200 nm (λ/5000) wide and up to 4.5 mm long. The design principle relies on phase matching dielectric and nanogap waveguide modes, resulting in efficient directional coupling between them when they are placed side-by-side. Broadband far-field terahertz transmission experiments through the dielectric waveguide reveal a transmission dip near the designed wavelength due to resonant coupling. Near-field measurements on the surface of the gold layer confirm that such a dip is accompanied by a transfer of power to the nanogap, with an estimated coupling efficiency of ∼10%. Our approach efficiently interfaces millimeter waves with nanoscale waveguides in a tailored and controllable manner, with important implications for on-chip nanospectroscopy, telecommunications, and quantum technologies.

Compact high isolation MIMO antenna array for 6G application (0.1–10 THZ)

ABSTRACT In wireless communication, channel capacity and reliability can be increased using a Multiple Input Multiple Output antenna. For several future applications, the sixth generation terahertz frequency spectrum (0.1–10 THz) will be used to increase the communication speed in wireless networks. To minimise coupling and reconfiguration, the decoupling structure and pin diodes are used in the MIMO antenna. This research presents a four-port electromagnetic band gap-based MIMO antenna array for 6 G applications. The entire MIMO system is influenced by the electromagnetic coupling between the four or eight MIMO parts. In the ground plane, antenna size reduction, insulation improvement, and defective ground are used. Here, the antenna is designed and compared using the two substrates Flame Retardant and polyimide. The performance of the suggested design is 288 GHz Polyimide and 301.6 GHz FR4. The suggested design showed better performance of the antenna as well as diversity measures.

A Series of Ultra-low Permittivity ALaP4O12 (A = Li, Na, K) Metaphosphate Microwave Dielectric Ceramics for Ultra-wideband Dielectric Resonant Antenna Application.

The employment of ultra-low permittivity materials in the configuration of antennas has been demonstrated to augment the antenna bandwidth and diminish signal delay effectively. This study presents three ultra-low permittivity metaphosphate microwave dielectric ceramics (MWDCs). The ALaP4O12 (A = Li, Na, K) metaphosphate ceramics, which all belong to the monoclinic crystal system, exhibit extremely low permittivity (εr ≈ 5) and excellent quality factor (Q·f > 10,000 GHz) at a low sintering temperature (T < 950 °C). Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy indicates that the εr of ALaP4O12 at terahertz frequencies is comparable to that observed in the microwave band and its value remains stable over an extensive frequency range. Furthermore, the relationship between the crystal structure and the dielectric properties of ALaP4O12 has been analyzed through the lens of chemical bond theory. The highest Q·f value observed for LiLaP4O12 can be attributed to the high chemical bond strength and stability of its crystal structure. The lowest ionic polarizability per unit volume is exhibited by NaLaP4O12, which results in the lowest pore-corrected permittivity. The thermal expansion of the chemical bonds within KLaP4O12 is considerable, resulting in the highest coefficient of thermal expansion. Finally, the performance of a LiLaP4O12-based dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) excited by slot-coupled microstrip lines was designed and optimized by using different ceramic radius-to-height (RH) ratios. It was found that when the RH ratio of DRA reached 1.85, both the fundamental mode (HEM11δ) and the higher-order mode (HEM12δ) of DRA were simultaneously excited. The two modes overlap significantly, resulting in an ultra-wideband (UWB) of 46.8% (bandwidth = 7.93 GHz). Concurrently, the maximum radiation efficiency and gain of the DRA, obtained from the simulation, are 97.9% and 7.92 dBi, respectively. The findings of this study may inform the investigation of ultra-low permittivity phosphorus-based MWDCs and UWB DRAs.

An Ultra-Broadband Conductor-Backed Coplanar Waveguide with Sine Edges

In this paper, a conductor-backed coplanar waveguide with sine edges (CBCPW-SE), consisting of a conductor-backed coplanar with periodic sine edges supported by a dielectric substrate, is proposed as a promising new transmission line (TL) at millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies. This configuration offers a distinct advantage by maintaining a constant input impedance of 50 Ω across a broad frequency spectrum, eliminating the necessity for any additional impedance matching transitions, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and simplicity of the transmission system. To verify the design, the CBCPW-SE was fabricated and measured. The measurement results demonstrate that, from 10 MHz to 100 GHz, the insertion loss is less than 0.1 dB/mm and the reflection coefficient is better than −10 dB. The measured S21 (dB) for a 50 mm-long CBCPW-SE section is less than −5 dB from 10 MHz to 100 GHz. The measured group delay per unit length of the trace is 3.4–5 ps, ranging from 10 MHz to 100 GHz. Moreover, the measured group velocity dispersion (GVD) approaches zero, signifying the minimal temporal spreading of the signal components, a crucial aspect for maintaining signal integrity and facilitating high-speed data transmission.

Self-referencing refractive index sensor based on graphene-assisted TAMM plasmon cavity resonance.

In this Letter, we report TAMM plasmonic polaritons (TPPs) generated by few-layer MoS2 with a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structure in the terahertz frequency region by utilizing the transfer matrix method (TMM) and finite element method (FEM). By inserting a mono-graphene embedded cavity layer, we realize the graphene-induced mode strong coupling (GCM), which is a strategy of a refractive index sensor by optimizing the cavity layer spacing. By adjusting the chemical potential of graphene, GCM is modulated. μc = 0.1 eV and μc = 0.9 eV are selected as the on-off-state parameters, respectively. The difference in reflectance spectra presents a differential signal and a self-reference operation. The sensitivity of the designed refractive index sensor is 7.8 THz/RIU and a figure of merit (FOM) of 882 RUI-1 can be obtained. The proposed structure in our Letter demonstrates its potential application in high-performance self-reference refractive index sensors.

On‐Demand Generation and Control of Giant Terahertz Nonlinearity with Metasurfaces

AbstractSimultaneous control of the optical linearity and nonlinearity of the materials plays key roles in next‐generation electronics and optics as it offers the potential of manipulating the fundamental properties while generating new frequencies of light. Such control is exceedingly challenging at the technologically important terahertz (THz) frequencies due to the severe scarcity of high‐performance nonlinear materials. Here, a unique method is introduced for achieving THz second‐order nonlinearity through Lorentz force‐driven anharmonic oscillations of free electrons in metasurfaces. It does not depend on natural nonlinear materials and provides ultrahigh design freedom. Using this approach, efficient THz second harmonic generation (SHG) is experimentally demonstrated with remarkably large values of the effective nonlinear susceptibility at room temperature. By engineering the geometry of the metasurfaces, the generation and suppression of the second harmonics can be controlled and customize their polarization states at will. This efficient, configurable, room‐temperature, and ultra‐compact platform for THz SHG provides new perspectives for developing high‐performance THz sources, frequency multipliers, and other nonlinear devices.

Polarization-sensitive mechanically-tunable microwave filter using metallic photonic crystals

A tunable, polarization-sensitive microwave filter based on a reconfigurable dual-layered two-dimensional metallic photonic crystal is presented. The filter consists of a metallic plate with periodic holes and metal pillars which are anchored in a substrate material. The diameter of the pillars is smaller than that of the holes and the lateral position of the pillars with respect to the holes is tunable. We study the transmission of the device for linearly polarized electromagnetic radiation, which is polarized parallel and perpendicular to the displacement of the movable membrane, respectively. The tuning range spans from 20.18 GHz to 26.58 GHz for perpendicular polarization and from 20.18 GHz to 18.42 GHz for parallel polarization. The 3 dB operation bandwidth varies between 3.82 GHz and 6.44 GHz for perpendicular polarization and between 3.42 GHz and 3.82 GHz for parallel polarization. Experimental data are in good agreement with finite element method (FEM) simulations. The proposed structure is scalable to other frequency ranges such as terahertz frequencies.

The investigation of an inspired type toroidal dipole flexible metasurfaces at terahertz frequencies

We theoretically and experimentally carried out an inspired type of toroidal dipole (TD) metasurfaces, which composed of a metamolecule of symmetric aluminium semicircles with a bar in the middle fabricated on polyimide substrate in the terahertz (THz) regime. It was found that the three resonances show red-shift tendency due to the increase of inductance and capacitance with the increase of semicircle's outer radius. Meanwhile, both the TD resonances and the current flowing in the metallic bar can generate the head-to-tail magnetic field distribution, which is the most prominent feature of TD phenomenon. The generation of this phenomenon is discussed deeply via the power of the multipoles, which are calculated according to the volume current density distribution data extracted from the simulations. The low frequencies (∼0.5 THz) head-to-tail magnetic field distribution is mainly attributed to TD resonance generated via the mutual effect between the two semicircles, while the same phenomenon at high frequencies (∼0.8 THz) is mainly attributed to the current flowing the middle metallic bar. The enhancement of head-to-tail magnetic field distribution leads to the increase of quality (Q) factor, and the Q factor of fabricated sample is as high as 24.5. Moreover, the electromagnetic properties in TD metasurfaces could be adjusted by the metal bar's width. The optimization of TD resonances provides opportunity to design the high Q-factor metasurfaces, and it opens up potential applications in terahertz high sensitivity devices.

Limitations of effective medium models for tissue phantoms in the THz frequency range

The absorption of terahertz (THz) radiation by water molecules facilitates its application to several biomedical applications such as cancer detection. Therefore, it is critical for the THz technologies to be characterised with water content in a sample. In this paper, we analyse gelatine phantoms in the THz frequency range, with continuously varying hydration levels as they dry over time. Water molecules in close proximity to the protein molecule, termed ‘bound water’, feature properties different from the ‘free water’ molecules at larger distances. We find that a common model for predicting electromagnetic properties of phantoms and tissue samples, which assumes that only the free water varies with hydration while the bound water remains constant, does not agree well with measured results. To gain insight into this behaviour, we simultaneously measured the phantom in Raman spectroscopy, which shows a continuously varying concentration of bound water with hydration level. It follows from this investigation, that the permittivity contributions of neither the biomolecules nor water are expected to be linear with water density. This means that the often used, simple effective medium model will not be accurate for many biological tissues or phantoms.

Design of absorber and refractive index sensor structure based on graphene metamaterials at terahertz frequencies

Design of absorber and refractive index sensor structure based on graphene metamaterials at terahertz frequencies