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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/J46029/01
Title: AN OPTOELECTRONIC TERAHERTZ SIGNAL SOURCE
Principal Investigator: Lesurf, Dr J
Other Investigators:
Sibbett, Professor W
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Organisation: University of St Andrews
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 1994 Ends: 31 March 1996 Value (£): 82,557
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Optoelect. Devices & Circuits
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
To develop a novel solid-state source of mm-wave to Terahertz coherent radiation. This source will be suitable for application to various systems tasks; e.g. as a local oscillator for mm-wave and sub-mm heterodyne receivers and a test source f or THz wideband spectroscopy.Progress:This project is proceeding well. We have already manufactured first generation devices in silicon-on-sapphire, ion-damaged silicon-on-sapphire, and gallium arsenide. These have no been switched with a Ti:sapphire mode-locked laser producing 150 fs pulses at a repetition rate of 90MHz. We have observed ultra-broadband RF output extending from 90MHz up through 100GHz and beyond. Power measurements using a W-band meter have recorded band-total powers in excess of 200nW. This implies we have already achieved wideband powers well in excess of this level. It is worth noting that the output power we are seeing at W-band is at and around the one thousandth harmonic of the input laser pulse rate. We plan to develop improved devices and switch them with laser which offer increased pulse rates, hence reducing the harmonic values required for mm-wave to THz output. The experiments carrier out to date support the arguments presented in our grant application, hence we are confident that this project will reach a satisfactory conclusion.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.st-and.ac.uk