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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Terahertz technology and applications

Despite great scientific interest since at least the 1920's, the THz frequency range remains on e of the least tapped regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Sandwiched between traditional microwave and optical technologies where there is a limited atmospheric propagation path, little commercial emphasis has been placed on THz systems. This has, perhaps fortunately, preserved some unique science and applications for tomorrow's technologies. For over 25 years the sole niche for THz technology has been in the high resolution spectroscopy and remote sensing areas where heterodyne and Fourier transform techniques have allowed astronomers, chemists, Earth, planetary and space scientists to measure, catalog and map thermal emission lines for a wide variety of lightweight molecules. As it turns out, no where else in the electromagnetic spectrum do we receive so much information about these chemical species. In fact, the universe is bathed in THz energy, most of it going unnoticed and undetected.

THz electromagnetic spectrum↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Fabrication and Characterization of A Lunar Simulant-Based Sintered Construction Material

In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is critical to enable future efforts to have a long-term human presence on the Moon as well as Mars. ISRU technologies are being developed for radiation protection, dust mitigation, thermal insulation, and other applications. One such ISRU technology for creating construction materials out of lunar and Martian regolith is sintering, which is a thermal-based construction process that bonds finely grained material together at temperatures below the melting point. However, the conditions employed during the sintering, such as temperature, atmospheric composition, duration of the process, and pressure, can have a significant impact on the quality and strength of the resulting materials. In parallel, the development of methods for characterizing the quality, porosity, density, and other properties of these materials is critical. X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) can image large changes in density within a material, such as the presence of pores throughout an otherwise uniform medium, with relatively high spatial resolution. Similarly, Terahertz time-domain spectroscopic (THz-TDS) imaging is sensitive to density variations within samples, but is restricted to non-conducting materials. Specifically, previous work has shown that the refractive index (n eff ) values obtained through the analysis of THz-TDS images increases with increasing density within plastic samples. Even further, this work showed that it is possible to create a calibration curve for a given material from samples of different, but known density, which can enable one to directly convert n eff to density for samples having the same composition, but unknown density. Here, we report on the fabrication of a lunar simulant-based sintered construction material using vacuum hot pressed (VHP) sintering, then show X-ray CT and THz-TDS imaging results of the sample, which show spatial variations in the material. This has important implications for efforts to improve these types of lunar construction material processes and verify the quality of these materials in terms of consolidation. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previous work utilizing VHP sintering to make lunar simulant-based construction materials or exploring the feasibility of THz imaging to spatially map the density variation through a lunar simulant-based construction material.

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopic imaging↗
DOE OSTI2026

Detection and imaging of chemicals and hidden explosives using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and deep learning

Detecting concealed chemicals and explosives remains a critical challenge in global security. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) offers a promising non-invasive and stand-off detection technique owing to its ability to penetrate optically opaque materials without causing ionization damage. While many chemicals exhibit distinct spectral features in the terahertz range, conventional terahertz-based detection methods often struggle in real-world environments, where variations in sample geometry, thickness, and packaging can lead to inconsistent spectral responses. In this study, we present a chemical imaging system that integrates THz-TDS with deep learning to enable accurate pixel-level identification and classification of different explosives. Operating in reflection mode and enhanced with plasmonic nanoantenna arrays, our THz-TDS system achieves a peak dynamic range of 96 dB and a detection bandwidth of 4.5 THz, supporting practical, stand-off operation. By analyzing individual time-domain pulses with deep neural networks, the system exhibits strong resilience to environmental variations and sample inconsistencies. Blind testing across eight chemicals—including pharmaceutical excipients and explosive compounds—resulted in an average classification accuracy of 99.42% at the pixel level. Notably, the system maintained an average accuracy of 88.83% when detecting explosives concealed under opaque paper coverings, demonstrating its robust generalization capability. These results highlight the potential of combining advanced terahertz spectroscopy with neural networks for highly sensitive and specific chemical and explosive detection in diverse and operationally relevant scenarios.

Imaging and sensing↗
DOE OSTI2025

Long-lived zone-boundary magnons in an antiferromagnet

Antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulators exhibit many desirable features for spintronic applications such as fast dynamics in the THz range and robustness to fluctuating external fields. However, large damping typically associated with THz magnons presents a serious challenge for THz magnonic applications. Here, we report long-lived short-wavelength zone boundary magnons in the honeycomb AFM insulator CoTiO 3 , recently found to host topological magnons. We find that its zone-boundary THz magnons exhibit longer lifetimes than its zone-center magnons. This unusual momentum-dependent long magnon lifetime originates from several factors including the antiferromagnetic order, exchange anisotropy, a finite magnon gap, and magnon band dispersion. Our work suggests that magnon-magnon interaction may not be detrimental to magnon lifetimes and should be included in future searches for topological magnons.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Monolithic optoelectronic circuit design for on-chip terahertz applications

We demonstrate a monolithic coplanar stripline platform for on-chip terahertz (THz) generation, transmission, and detection, addressing key challenges of mode purity, bandwidth, and referencing. Capacitive coupling of the photoconductive generator switch enforces pure odd-mode propagation, increases THz field strength, and extends the operational frequency range, achieving 0.05–1.4 THz. Our architecture enables fully monolithic fabrication with amorphous silicon switches, in situ field referencing, and galvanic isolation between generation and detection. Finite-element simulations and experiments confirm that suppressing parasitic modes improves signal integrity, providing a robust platform for high-fidelity THz spectroscopy, ultrafast electronics, and nanoscale quantum materials research.

Capacitive coupling↗
NASA NTRS1992

Focal plane arrays for submillimeter waves using two-dimensional electron gas elements: A grant under the Innovative Research Program

This final report describes a three-year research effort, aimed at developing new types of THz low noise receivers, based on bulk effect ('hot electron') nonlinearities in the Two-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG) Medium, and the inclusion of such receivers in focal plane arrays. 2DEG hot electron mixers have been demonstrated at 35 and 94 GHz with three orders of magnitude wider bandwidth than previous hot electron mixers, which use bulk InSb. The 2DEG mixers employ a new mode of operation, which was invented during this program. Only moderate cooling is required for this mode, to temperatures in the range 20-77 K. Based on the results of this research, it is now possible to design a hot electron mixer focal plane array for the THz range, which is anticipated to have a DSB receiver noise temperature of 500-1000K. In our work on this grant, we have found similar results the the Cronin group (resident at the University of Bath, UK). Neither group has so far demonstrated heterodyne detection in this mode, however. We discovered and explored some new effects in the magnetic field mode, and these are described in the report. In particular, detection of 94 GHz and 238 GHz, respectively, by a new effect, 'Shubnikov de Haas detection', was found to be considerably stronger in our materials than the cyclotron resonance detection. All experiments utilized devices with an active 2DEG region of size of the order of 10-40 micrometers long, and 20-200 micrometers wide, formed at the heterojunction between AlGaAs and GaAs. All device fabrication was performed in-house. The materials for the devices were also grown in-house, utilizing OMCVD (Organo Metallic Chemical Vapor Deposition). In the course of this grant, we developed new techniques for growing AlGaAs/GaAs with mobilities equalling the highest values published by any laboratory. We believe that the field of hot electron mixers and detectors will grow substantially in importance in the next few years, partly as a result of the opportunity given us through this grant, which represents the major effort in the US so far. We note, however, that parallel research on hot electron mixers in thin film superconductors in Russia, and recently in Sweden, have demonstrated mixing up to 1 THz, with the potential for low-noise receivers for frequencies up to many THz. The three groups recently assessed the relative adtantages of 2DEG and superconducting film mixers in a joint paper (Kollberg et al., 1992; see Appendix II).

Yngvesson, K. Sigfrid↗
NASA NTRS2005

Quantum-limited Terahertz detection without liquid cryogens

Under this contract, we have successfully designed, fabricated and tested a revolutionary new type of detector for Terahertz (THz) radiation, the tunable antenna-coupled intersubband Terahertz (TACIT) detector. The lowest-noise THz detectors used in the astrophysics community require cooling to temperatures below 4K. This deep cryogenic requirement forces satellites launched for THz- observing missions to include either large volumes of liquid Helium, complex cryocoolers, or both. Cryogenic requirements thus add significantly to the cost, complexity and mass of satellites and limit the duration of their missions. It hence desirable to develop new detector technologies with less stringent cryogenic requirements. Such detectors will not only be important in space-based astrophysics, but also respond to a growing demand for THz technology for earth-based scientific and commercial applications.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2006

An Ultrasensitive Hot-Electron Bolometer for Low-Background SMM Applications

We are developing a hot-electron superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) that is capable of counting THz photons and operates at T = 0.3K. The main driver for this work is moderate resolution spectroscopy (R approx. 1000) on the future space telescopes with cryogenically cooled (approx. 4 K) mirrors. The detectors for these telescopes must be background-limited with a noise equivalent power (NEP) approx. 10(exp -19)-10(exp -20) W/Hz(sup 1/2) over the range v = 0.3-10 THz. Above about 1 THz, the background photon arrival rate is expected to be approx. 10-100/s), and photon counting detectors may be preferable to an integrating type. We fabricated superconducting Ti nanosensors with a volume of approx. 3x10(exp -3) cubic microns on planar substrate and have measured the thermal conductance G to the thermal bath. A very low G = 4x10(exp -14) W/K, measured at 0.3 K, is due to the weak electron-phonon coupling in the material and the thermal isolation provided by superconducting Nb contacts. This low G corresponds to NEP(0.3K) = 3x10(exp -19) W/Hz(sup 1/2). This Hot-Electron Direct Detector (HEDD) is expected to have a sufficient energy resolution for detecting individual photons with v > 0.3 THz at 0.3 K. With the sensor time constant of a few microseconds, the dynamic range is approx. 50 dB.

bolometers↗
NASA NTRS2010

Real-time, continuous-wave terahertz imaging using a microbolometer focal-plane array

The present invention generally provides a terahertz (THz) imaging system that includes a source for generating radiation (e.g., a quantum cascade laser) having one or more frequencies in a range of about 0.1 THz to about 10 THz, and a two-dimensional detector array comprising a plurality of radiation detecting elements that are capable of detecting radiation in that frequency range. An optical system directs radiation from the source to an object to be imaged. The detector array detects at least a portion of the radiation transmitted through the object (or reflected by the object) so as to form a THz image of that object.

Hu, Qing↗
NASA NTRS2012

Multicolor Detectors for Ultrasensitive Long-Wave Imaging Cameras

A document describes a zeptobolometer for ultrasensitive, long-wavelength sensors. GSFC is developing pixels based on the zeptobolometer design that sense three THz wavelengths simultaneously. Two innovations are described in the document: (1) a quasiparticle (QO) filter arrangement that enables a compact multicolor spectrum at the focal plane, and (2) a THz antenna readout by up to three bolometers. The innovations enable high efficiency by greatly reducing high, frequency-dependent microstrip losses, and pixel compactness by eliminating the need for bulky filters in the focal plane. The zeptobolometer is a small TES bolometer, on the scale of a few microns, which can be readily coupled through an impedance-matching resistor to a metal or dielectric antenna. The bolometer is voltage-biased in its superconducting transition, allowing the use of superconducting RF multiplexers to read out large arrays. The antenna is geometrically tapped at three locations so as to efficiently couple radiation of three distinct wavelengths to the individual TESs. The transition edge hot electrons in metals offer a simple, compact arrangement for antenna readout, which can be crucial in the THz where line losses at high frequencies can be substantial. A metallic grill filter acts as a high-pass filter and directs the low-frequency components to a location where they will be absorbed. The absorption spectrum shows that three well-separated THz bands are feasible. The filters can be made from high-purity dielectrics such as float zone silicon or sapphire.

Brown, Ari↗
DOE OSTI2025

High‐Asymmetry Metasurface: A New Solution for Terahertz Resonance via Active Learning‐Augmented Diffusion Model

Terahertz (THz) metamaterials with high‐figure‐of‐merit (high‐FoM) performance resonance are essential for advancing sensors, detectors, and imagers. Conventional designs focus on symmetric or low‐asymmetry geometric structures, leaving high‐asymmetry designs largely unexplored due to the inefficiency of trial‐and‐error‐based rational design. Recent deep learning techniques offer automation and acceleration but are constrained by the need for large datasets inherent to their data‐driven nature. Here, a novel prior knowledge‐guided generative model augmented by a physics‐constrained active learning mechanism to design high‐asymmetry metamaterials. An advanced diffusion model learns features from a small set of classical structures with high‐FoM THz resonance and generates new high‐asymmetry structures. To mitigate the limited number of classical structures, the generated high‐asymmetry structures are actively selected and integrated into the initial training dataset based on their physical characteristics. Experimental results demonstrate the superior resonance performance of the generated high‐asymmetry metamaterials over classical designs, exhibiting improvements exceeding 30% in key resonance metrics. Remarkably, this performance is attained using only 68 classical structures as the initial training dataset, significantly reducing the data requirements for deep learning‐based metamaterial design. The proposed scheme for generating high‐asymmetry structures provides a new effective and efficient solution for high‐FoM resonance, expanding applications in high‐sensitivity THz metadevices.

diffusion model↗
DOE OSTI2026

Ultrabroadband Spacetime Nanoscopy of Terahertz Polaritons in a van der Waals Cavity

Guiding, storing, and processing light at the nanoscale hinges on understanding how polaritons — hybrid quasiparticles of light and matter — propagate and interfere in both space and time. This work introduces a synchrotron-based technique, SYnchrotron SpaceTimE Mapping (SYSTEM), which captures real-time evolution of polariton wave packets with ∼10 nm spatial and sub-100 fs temporal resolution across an ultrabroadband 5–50 THz range. Here, SYSTEM directly visualizes the creation, interference, and decay of multiple high-quality Fabry-Pérot phonon polariton cavity modes in an α-MoO 3 microcavity. These real-space, real-time observations reveal wave-packet dynamics and cavity resonances with record-high quality factors (Q ≈ 100) in the single-digit terahertz regime near 9 THz. SYSTEM thus offers a powerful and broadly applicable platform for probing and engineering ultraslow, deeply subwavelength polaritons, opening new avenues for tailoring light–matter interactions and advancing next-generation THz nanophotonic technologies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Terahertz-polarizing effect based on geometric anisotropy of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene nanosheets

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have garnered considerable attention due to their unique properties, such as thinness and excellent electronic properties. The inherent anisotropy of 2D nanomaterials, which is characterized by their high aspect ratio, can maximize the directional functionality to enhance the conductivity and utilization of edges. Here, we demonstrate how to utilize the edges of titanium carbide (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) MXene nanosheet to control the linear polarization in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. By a simple and unique vertical alignment exploiting the high surface charge and excellent colloidal dispersibility of MXene nanosheets, MXene nanosheets are vertically oriented along an applied AC electric field. The well-aligned edges justify the THz polarizing effect, revealing outstanding performances such as the broadband coverage in 0.2–1.5 THz and an exceptional extinction ratio reaching 20 dB. Furthermore, we vary the local orientation of the vertical MXene nanosheets by tailoring the applied electric field, enabling spatially controllable polarization capabilities. Our results can provide a generic tool for the utilization of 2D nanomaterials in diverse potential applications in optics and electronics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Raman and Terahertz Spectroscopy of Low-Frequency Chiral Phonons in Amino Acids

Chiral phonons are mirror-symmetric vibrations with nonzero angular momenta that correspond to twisting and rotational motions of multiple atoms. In chiral crystals, these include low-energy terahertz (THz)-range vibrations of the molecular segments involving dozens of atoms with energies sensitive to molecular chirality. Here, we present spectral signatures of chiral phonons in circularly polarized Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra from enantiomers of amino acid crystals. Along with complementary THz circular dichroism (TCD) measurements, our ROA data reveal several vibrational bands in enantiomers of valine, alanine, tyrosine, and proline between 30 and 150 cm –1 (∼1–4.5 THz) that exhibit opposite intensities. Density functional theory calculations confirm their assignment to twisting and shearing molecular motions. The simultaneous registration of chiral phonon modes by ROA and TCD demonstrates the necessity of these complementary techniques to identify complex mirror-asymmetric vibrational modes and offers new insights into their interactions with circularly polarized light.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Terahertz Dirac Hyperbolic Metamaterial

Hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) are engineered materials with a hyperbolic isofrequency surface, enabling a range of interesting phenomena and applications including negative refraction, enhanced sensing, and subdiffraction imaging, focusing, and waveguiding. Existing HMMs primarily work in the visible and infrared spectral range due to the inherent properties of their constituent materials. Here, we demonstrate a THz-range Dirac HMM using topological insulators as the building blocks. Here, we find that the structure houses up to three high-wavevector volume plasmon polariton (VPP) modes, consistent with transfer matrix modeling and effective medium theory calculations. The VPPs have mode indices greater than 100, significantly larger than observed for VPP modes in HMMs made from metals or doped semiconductors while maintaining comparable quality factors. We attribute these properties to the two-dimensional Dirac nature of the electrons occupying the topological insulator surface states. Because these are van der Waals materials, these structures can be grown at a wafer-scale on a variety of substrates, allowing them to be integrated with existing THz structures and enabling next-generation THz optical devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Imaging a terahertz superfluid plasmon in a two-dimensional superconductor

The superconducting gap defines the fundamental energy scale for the emergence of dissipationless transport and collective phenomena in a superconductor. In layered high-temperature cuprate superconductors, in which the Cooper pairs are confined to weakly coupled two-dimensional (2D) copper–oxygen (CuO 2 ) planes, terahertz (THz) spectroscopy at subgap millielectronvolt (meV) energies has provided crucial insights into the collective superfluid response perpendicular to the superconducting layers. However, within the CuO 2 planes, the collective superfluid response manifests as plasmonic charge oscillations at energies far exceeding the superconducting gap, obscured by strong dissipation. Here, in this study, we present spectroscopic evidence of a below-gap, 2D superfluid plasmon in few-layer Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+x and spatially resolve its deeply subdiffractive THz electrodynamics. By placing the superconductor in the near field of a spintronic THz emitter, we reveal this distinct resonance—absent in bulk samples and observed only in the superconducting phase—and determine its plasmonic nature by mapping the geometric anisotropy and dispersion. Crucially, these measurements offer a direct view of the momentum-dependent and frequency-dependent superconducting transition in two dimensions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

High-frequency gravitational wave detection by the BREAD experiment

The use of experiments searching for light axion dark matter as high-frequency gravitational wave detectors has garnered increasing attention in recent years. We explore the capabilities of the Broadband Reflector Experiment for Axion Detection (BREAD) in probing the GW parameter space and study the directional dependence of its coverage. This detector can investigate frequencies ranging from 0.05 to 200 THz. We find that by employing single photon detectors, BREAD is sensitive to GWs with characteristic strains as low as 10 −21 at 0.1 THz and 10 −25 at 200 THz with a year exposure time, making it competitive with other proposals operating at similar frequencies.

axions↗
DOE OSTI2024

Coherent Transfer of Lattice Entropy via Extreme Nonlinear Phononics in Metal Halide Perovskites

Entropy transfer in metal halide perovskites, characterized by significant lattice anharmonicity and low stiffness, underlies the remarkable properties observed in their optoelectronic applications, ranging from solar cells to lasers. The conventional view of this transfer involves stochastic processes occurring within a thermal bath of phonons, where the lattice arrangement and energy flow from higher- to lower-frequency modes. Here, we unveil a comprehensive chronological sequence detailing a conceptually distinct coherent transfer of entropy in a prototypical perovskite CH 3 NH 3 Pbl 3 . The terahertz periodic modulation imposes vibrational coherence into electronic states, leading to the emergence of mixed (vibronic) quantum beat between approximately 3 and 0.3 THz. We highlight a well-structured bidirectional time-frequency transfer of these diverse phonon modes, each developing at different times and transitioning from high to low frequencies from 3 to 0.3 THz, before reversing direction and ascending to around 0.8 THz. First-principles molecular dynamics simulations disentangle a complex web of coherent-phononic coupling pathways and identify the salient roles of the initial modes in shaping entropy evolution at later stages. Capitalizing on coherent entropy transfer and dynamic anharmonicity presents a compelling opportunity to exceed the fundamental thermodynamic (Shockley-Queisser) limit of photoconversion efficiency and to pioneer novel optoelectronic functionalities. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗