Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Terahertz sources”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Terahertz Schottky Multiplier Sources

This viewgraph presentation reviews the multiplier source technologies and the status/Performance of THz multiplier sources. An example of a THz application is imaging radar. The presentation reviews areas of requirements for THz sources: (1) Figures of merit, (i.e., Frequency Terahertz for high resolution Bandwidth of at least 15 GHz for high range resolution Efficiency (i.e., minimize power supply requirements) (2) Output power: (i.e., Milliwatts below 800 GHz, 10s of microwatts above 1 THz, 1-2 microwatts near 2 THz (3) Mechanical--stability, compact, low mass (4) Environmental -- radiation, vibration, thermal. Several sources for 0.3 - 2 THz are reviewed: FIR lasers, quantum cascade lasers (QCL), backward-wave oscillator (BWO), and Multiplier sources. The current state of the art (SoA) is shown as Substrateless Technology. It also shows where the SoA is for devices beyond 1 THz. The presentation concludes by reviewing the options for future development, and 2 technology roadmaps

submillimeter wave↗
DOE OSTI2020

Thermionic microwave gun for terahertz and synchrotron light sources

Conventional thermionic microwave and radiofrequency (RF) guns can offer high average beam current, which is important for synchrotron light and terahertz (THz) radiation source facilities, as well as for industrial applications. For example, the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory is a national synchrotron radiation light source research facility that utilizes thermionic RF guns. Yet, these existing thermionic guns are bulky, difficult to handle and install, easily detuned, very sensitive to thermal expansion, and are due for a major upgrade and replacement. Here, we present the design of a new, more stable and reliable gun with optimized electromagnetic performance, improved thermal engineering and a more robust cathode mounting technique, which is a critical step to improve the performance of existing and future light sources, industrial accelerators, and electron beam-driven terahertz sources. We will also present a fabricated gun prototype and show results of high-power and beam tests.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS2001

Micromachined TWTs for THz Radiation Sources

The Terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum (about 300 - 3000 GHz in frequency or about 0.1 - 1 mm free space wavelength) has enormous potential for high-data-rate communications, spectroscopy, astronomy, space research, medicine, biology, surveillance, remote sensing, industrial process control, etc. It has been characterized as the most scientifically rich, yet under-utilized, region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The most critical roadblock to full exploitation of the THz band is lack of coherent radiation sources that are powerful (0.001 - 1.0 W continuous wave), efficient (> 1%), frequency agile (instantaneously tunable over 1% bandwidths or more), reliable, and comparatively inexpensive. To develop vacuum electron device (VED) radiation sources satisfying these requirements, fabrication and packaging approaches must be heavily considered to minimize costs, in addition to the basic interaction physics and circuit design. To minimize size of the prime power supply, beam voltage must be minimized, preferably 10 kV. Solid state sources satisfy the low voltage requirement, but are many orders of magnitude below power, efficiency, and bandwidth requirements. On the other hand, typical fast-wave VED sources in this regime (e.g., gyrotrons, FELs) tend to be large, expensive, high voltage and very high power devices unsuitable for most of the applications cited above. VEDs based on grating or inter-digital (ID) circuits have been researched and developed. However, achieving forward-wave amplifier operation with instantaneous fractional bandwidths > 1% is problematic for these devices with low-energy (< 15 kV) electron beams. Moreover, the interaction impedance is quite low unless the beam-circuit spacing is kept particularly narrow, often leading to significant beam interception. One solution to satisfy the THz source requirements mentioned above is to develop micromachined VEDs, or "micro-VEDs". Among other benefits, micro-machining technologies provide superior high frequency wall conductivity as a result of superior surface smoothness compared with conventional mechanical or electric discharge machining approaches. Micro-VED technologies are already being applied to the development of millimeter-wave klystrons at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and submillimeter-wave klystrons at the University of Leeds. We are investigating the use of micro-machining technologies to develop THz regime TWTs, with emphasis on folded-waveguide TWTs. The folded-waveguide TWT (FW-TWT) has several features that make it attractive for THz-regime micro-VED applications. It is a relatively simple circuit to design and fabricate, it is amenable to precision pattern replication by micro-machining, and it is has been demonstrated capable of forward-wave amplification with appreciable bandwidth. We are conducting experimental and computational studies of micro-VED FW-TWTs to examine their feasibility for applications at frequencies from 200 - 1000 GHz.

Booske, John H.↗
DOE OSTI2025

High-speed fiber-coupled terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system using a bias-free plasmonic source

We demonstrate a high-speed fiber-coupled terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system using a bias-free plasmonic terahertz source. The system is powered by a compact, low-power femtosecond fiber laser oscillator that drives a dual-branch fiber amplifier to pump and probe a plasmonic terahertz source and detector, respectively. A polarization-maintaining, fiber-coupled optical delay line is employed to precisely control the temporal offset between the pump and probe beams through a compact, robust platform. Operating in the self-similar amplification regime, the fiber amplifiers are engineered to mitigate nonlinear pulse distortion and dispersion while delivering robust, high-energy pulses at a 1560-nm wavelength, with an output power exceeding 326 mW. In reflection mode, the THz-TDS system achieves a peak dynamic range of 81 dB and a bandwidth greater than 3.5 THz at a scan rate of 3.75 Hz. The utility of the system for rapid sensing is further demonstrated by quantifying the porosity and density of pharmaceutical tablets through measurements of their physical thickness and effective refractive index.

Jiang, Xinghe [University of California, Los Angel↗
NASA NTRS2008

Method and apparatus for low-loss signal transmission

The present invention relates to the field of radio-frequency (RF) waveguides. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a method and apparatus that provides ultra-low-loss RF waveguide structures targeted between approximately 300 GHz and approximately 30 THz. The RF waveguide includes a hollow core and a flexible honeycomb, periodic-bandgap structure surrounding the hollow core. The flexible honeycomb, periodic-bandgap structure is formed of a plurality of tubes formed of a dielectric material such as of low-loss quartz, polyethylene, or high-resistivity silicon. Using the RF waveguide, a user may attach a terahertz signal source to the waveguide and pass signals through the waveguide, while a terahertz signal receiver receives the signals.

Siegel, Peter↗
DOE OSTI2023

Design Considerations for Compact High-Average Power Free-Electron Lasers/Masers at Terahertz Frequencies

Interest is increasing in high-power terahertz (THz) sources of radiation. The terminology is fluid, but researchers in the field typically refer to frequencies ranging from about 300 GHz to 10 THz as THz radiation. In this article, we present a description of design considerations for a compact, high-average power free-electron laser. At present, THz radiation is generated by a variety of mechanisms, including laser-based sources and electron-beam-based sources. Here, we provide a short description of current THz source technology to give background against which to compare the present concept; however, this should not be considered a comprehensive discussion of such technologies.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Quantum limits of superconducting-photonic links and their extension to millimeter waves

Photonic addressing of superconducting circuits has been proposed to overcome wiring complexity and heat-load challenges. However, such superconducting-photonic links suffer from an efficiency-noise trade-off that limits scalability. This trade-off arises because increasing power conversion efficiency entails reducing optical power, which makes the converted signal susceptible to shot noise. We analyze this trade-off and find that the laser-driven qubit gate infidelity scales inversely with the number of photons used. While methods such as nonlinear detection or squeezed light could mitigate this effect, we consider generating higher-frequency electrical signals, such as millimeter waves (100 GHz), using laser light. At these higher frequencies, circuits have higher operating temperatures and cooling power budgets and alleviate constraints posed by the trade-off. Therefore, we demonstrate an optically driven cryogenic millimeter-wave source with a maximum power efficiency of 8 ×10 −5 that can generate a maximum of 0.7 μ⁢W of 80 GHz power, with a 1200-thermal-photon equivalent of added noise at 4K. Using this source, we perform frequency-domain spectroscopy of superconducting NbTiN resonators at 80–90 GHz. Our results show a promising approach to lessen the efficiency-noise constraints on superconducting-photonic links, while leveraging the benefits of photonic signal delivery. Further optimization of power efficiency and noise at high frequencies could make scalable photonic control of superconducting qubits viable at temperatures exceeding 1K.

Optoelectronics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Precision gyroscope from the helicity of light

We describe a gyroscope that measures rotation based on the effects of the rotation on the polarization of light. Rotation induces a differential phase shift in the propagation of left- and right-circularly polarized light and this phase shift can be measured in suitably designed interferometric setups. The signal in this setup is independent of the frequency of light, unlike various sources of noise such as vibrations, which cause phase shifts that depend on the frequency. Such vibrations are the practical limit on the sensitivity of conventional Sagnac-style optical interferometers that are typically used as gyroscopes. In the proposed setup, one can potentially mitigate this source of noise by simultaneously using two (or more) sources of light that have different frequencies. The signal in this setup scales with the total storage time of the light. Due to its frequency independence, it is thus most optimal to measure the signal using superconducting radio-frequency systems where the high finesse of the available cavities enables considerably longer storage times than is possible in an optical setup.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Coherent control of asymmetric spintronic terahertz emission from two-dimensional hybrid metal halides

Abstract Next-generation terahertz (THz) sources demand lightweight, low-cost, defect-tolerant, and robust components with synergistic, tunable capabilities. However, a paucity of materials systems simultaneously possessing these desirable attributes and functionalities has made device realization difficult. Here we report the observation of asymmetric spintronic-THz radiation in Two-Dimensional Hybrid Metal Halides (2D-HMH) interfaced with a ferromagnetic metal, produced by ultrafast spin current under femtosecond laser excitation. The generated THz radiation exhibits an asymmetric intensity toward forward and backward emission direction whose directionality can be mutually controlled by the direction of applied magnetic field and linear polarization of the laser pulse. Our work demonstrates the capability for the coherent control of THz emission from 2D-HMHs, enabling their promising applications on the ultrafast timescale as solution-processed material candidates for future THz emitters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Observation of surface ferromagnons in the axion-insulating phase of the antiferromagnetic topological insulator EuSn 2⁢ As 2

We report the study of spin dynamics of Eu 2+ in the antiferromagnetic axion topological insulator EuSn 2 ⁢As 2 by means of antiferromagnetic resonance at 9.34 GHz. Below the Néel temperature (𝑇 N ), two types of resonance modes, the conventional bulk antiferromagnetic resonance and additional surface ferromagnetic resonance, are observed. The latter turns out to be characteristic of the axion-insulating phase. Above 𝑇 N , we prove the existence of a Kosterlitz-Thouless scenario that is relevant for the spin relaxation in the Eu 2+ layers. The absence of Korringa relaxation indicates the strong confinement of the conduction electrons at the Fermi level to the SnAs layers.

Antiferromagnets↗
DOE OSTI2023

Compensation of Anisotropy in Spin Hall Devices for Neuromorphic Applications

Spintronic nano-oscillators and diodes with reduced nonlinearity benefit from low phase noise and improved device properties. Moreover, they could offer key advantages for realizing neuromorphic applications, such as spike-based neurons and frequency multiplexing in neural networks. Here, in this work, we experimentally demonstrate the reduction in nonlinearity of a spin Hall nano-oscillator (SHNO) by compensation of its effective magnetic anisotropy. The study involves optimization of Co/Ni multilayer growth to achieve the compensation, followed by spin-diode measurements on patterned microstrips to quantify their anisotropy. The relationship between the second- (H k 2 = 0.47 mT) and first-order ($H^{eff}_{k_1}$ = -0.8 mT) anisotropy fields reveals the existence of an easy cone, thereby validating the presence of compensation. Furthermore, we demonstrate a compensated spin diode that has a fixed frequency when the input power is varied. We then study the current-induced auto-oscillation properties of SHNOs on compensated films by patterning nanoconstrictions of 200 and 100 nm wide. The invariance of the resonance frequency and linewidth of the compensated SHNO with applied dc current indicates the absence of nonlinearity. This independence is maintained irrespective of the applied external fields and their orientations. The compensated SHNO obtained has a linewidth of 1.1 MHz and a peak output power of up to 1 pW/MHz.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Confined magnons

Magnetic structures are known to possess magnon excitations confined to their surfaces and interfaces, but these spatially localized modes are often not resolved in spectroscopy experiments. In this work, we develop a theory to calculate the confined magnon spectra and its associated spin scattering function, which is the physical observable in neutron and electron scattering, and a proxy for photon spectroscopy based on x-ray, Raman, and terahertz (THz) sources. We show that extra anisotropy at the surface or interface plays a key role in magnon confinement. We obtain analytical expressions for the confinement length scale and show that it is qualitatively similar for ferromagnets and antiferromagnets in dimension d≥2. For d=1, we find remarkable differences between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic models. The theory indicates the presence of several confined magnon resonances in addition to the usual magnons thought to explain the excitations of magnetic nanostructures. Detecting these modes may elucidate the impact of the interface on spin anisotropy and magnetic order.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Spin Squeezing with Itinerant Magnetic Dipoles

Entanglement can improve the measurement precision of quantum sensors beyond the shot noise limit. Neutral atoms, the basis of some of the most precise and accurate optical clocks and interferometers, do not naturally exhibit the all-to-all interactions traditionally used to generate such entangled states. On the other hand, these systems exhibit exceedingly high degrees of experimental control over parameters such as temperature, spatial entropy, and itinerancy. In this work, we investigate spin squeezing in a highly coherent itinerant system of neutral atoms with magnetic dipole-dipole interactions. We achieve 7.1 dB of metrologically useful squeezing using finite-range spin-exchange interactions in an erbium quantum gas microscope, and we demonstrate that introducing atomic motion, realizing a dipolar 𝑡−𝐽 model, protects the spin sector coherence at low fillings, significantly improving the achievable spin squeezing in a 2D dipolar system. This work’s protocol can be implemented with most neutral atoms, opening the door to quantum-enhanced metrology in other itinerant dipolar systems, such as molecules or optical lattice clocks, and serves as a novel method for studying itinerant quantum magnetism with long-range interactions.

Atomic, optical & lattice clocks↗
DOE OSTI2020

Evaluation of high-stability optical beats in laser chaos by plasmonic photomixing

The stability of optical beats in a chaotically oscillating laser is compared to that of a free-running continuous-wave laser using a highly efficient plasmonic photomixer. Using a chaotically oscillating laser diode, stable optical beats are observed over an operation current range of 60-90 mA. The optical spectra are stable even with frequent mode hopping. In contrast, optical beats in a free-running continuous-wave laser are not stable compared to those of a chaotically oscillating laser, because of intermittent hopping of the laser modes. The high stability of chaotically oscillating lasers makes these lasers promising candidates for optical pump sources in terahertz time-domain spectroscopy systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗