Silicon Integrated Smart Terahertz Source Arrays for Reciprocal Imaging (SI-STAR)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ullrich Pfeiffer
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 424288076

The main objective of this project is to research on the fundamentals of THz source arrays for reciprocal and compressive imaging systems. The research builds up on our preliminary investigations of compressive imaging with an all-electronic "Terahertz Digital Light Projector" (T-DLP). In SI-STAR, we propose to extend this extensive research into a new class of THz sources, which can encode THz illumination with an unprecedented diversity toexponentially improve the acquisition speed and quality of reciprocal and compressive sensing. This functionality is enabled by an advanced modulation basis across multiple domains (spatial, temporal, frequency, amplitude) integrated together in a single dynamically reconfigurable silicon integrated source array system-on-a-chip. The project further aims to scale such T-DLPs source arrays into multi-chip systems with large THz illumination apertures and high output power. The proposed research aims to understand the fundamental methods and limitations of implementing such arrays to derive future theoretical and experimental research towards computational THz sensing and imaging.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants