TEASAR (TErahertz Active Source ARrays)An all-silicon reconfigurable terahertz source array for active imaging beyond 300 GHz

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ullrich Pfeiffer
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 240249557

Today's terahertz technologies have promised rapid growth in emerging markets such as safety and security, non-destructive testing, quality control, medical, and healthcare applications. However, the speed at which new markets emerge is slow because available technologies exhibit high-cost and low-level of integration, which substantially limits their mass-deployment. Silicon process technologies, however, offer low-cost industry standards with the required reliability. Recently, CMOS process technologies have been proven to be viable for hand-held, room-temperature, and battery-operated terahertz camera systems, however, such systems are in the need of efficient sources and illumination concepts yet to be developed. The aim of this research, therefore, is to develop low-cost single-chip source arrays in silicon process technologies to complement existing CMOS terahertz cameras above 300 GHz. Global illumination scenarios for active terahertz imaging systems with angular, spatial, frequency, and polarization diversity will provide an all-silicon solution for terahertz imaging - a breakthrough in terahertz science and technologies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants