| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/K86480/01 |
| Title: |
SEMICONDUCTOR LASER TERAHERTZ FREQUENCY CONVERTERS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Marsh, Professor JH |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Electronics and Electrical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Glasgow |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 December 1996 |
Ends: |
31 May 2000 |
Value (£): |
331,276
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Optoelect. Devices & Circuits |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Signal generation and frequency conversion (mixing), along with amplification and detection are basic functions of electronics. In this application, we propose to develop mode-locked semiconductor laser based sources and frequency converters with THz bandwidth capability. The key to utilising such ultra-high frequencies is firstly being able to generate Hz frequency local oscillator (LO) and to then use the LO signal in a mixer. Two types of mixer will be studied; optoelectronic mixing within the laser diode itself, and GaAs schottky diode mixers, the latter in collaboration with Professor Gordon Peckham at Herriot-Watt University whose group has a need for local oscillators foe use in satellite radiometers in the frequency range 700ghz to 2.5 Hz. In both types of mixer the LO will supplied by a mode-locked, or harmonically mode-locked, semiconductor laser. To be truly practical, a Hz frequency source must generate a stable output with a narrow linewidth (<100kHz). To produce such semiconductor laser based sources, we intend to study linewidth narrowing techniques using both sub-harmonic locking to an electrical microwave signal and harmonic locking to an injected optical signal. In addition, devices will be supplied to St Andrews University where they will be st7udied using a sub-millimetre wave spectrometer. The programme will be driven by establishing the use of mm-wave laser diodes in radiometers for atmospheric sensing. Understanding the environment has an impact on the entire population. The devices would also have many other applications in the microwave field including the aerospace industry, the defence industry and the automotive industry. At the lower frequency range ( around 60 Ghz) the devices could be used in fibre-radio and microwave interfaces for communications. Another major group of beneficiaries, at the high frequency end of the proposed programme, would be radio astronomers.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.gla.ac.uk |