You are here

Continuous Wave Terahertz Source Photonic Band Engineering

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Missile Defense Agency
Contract: FA8650-04-C-4226
Agency Tracking Number: B2-0544
Amount: $499,901.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: BMDO02T-00
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2002
Award Year: 2004
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2004-07-08
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2006-07-08
Small Business Information
13 Henshaw Street
Woburn, MA 01801
United States
DUNS: 004841644
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 Lei Zhang
 Director of R&D
 (781) 933-0513
 Lzhang@agiltron.com
Business Contact
 Jing Zhao
Title: President
Phone: (781) 933-0513
Email: jingzhao@agiltron.com
Research Institution
 Tufts University
 Theodore M Liszczak
 
4 Colby Street,
Medford, MA 02155
United States

 (617) 627-3417
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

The terahertz wave region of the electromagnetic spectrum offers exciting and unique attributes for security imaging and secure broadband communications. However, THz signal generation is difficult and current applications are rare. Existing THz sources utilize large and expensive lasers operating in pulsed mode. Practical application of THz radiation requires the development of THz source technology that is energy efficient, cost effective and provides continuous emission with high temporal and spatial coherence. Recent progress in photonic band gap engineering holds the promise of realizing a highly efficient coherent THz laser in a truly cost effective manner. In the Phase I program, a PBG THz generator consisting of a periodic structure of ZnTe and fused quartz was fabricated by an optical bonding technique. Terahertz generation was successfully demonstrated with this device and the enhancement of THz generation arising from PBG structure was observed. In the proposed Phase II program, further improvements in material selection, PBG structure design, fabrication technique, and signal enhancement are expected to produce highly coherent and directional CW THz radiation with high power level, narrow linewidth and frequency tunability. A prototype system for security imaging through fabric and paper will be built and tested using this source.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government