Project description
Uncovering solid state systems to generate and amplify THz frequencies
Plasmonics is a promising field of science and technology that exploits the interaction between light and matter. This new domain has potential applications in areas such as wireless telecommunication, biosensing and security. Plasma waves can be used to implement a new generation of devices operating at THz frequencies. Funded by the European Research Council, the TERAPLASM project aims to explore the feasibility of on-chip plasmonics amplifiers of THz radiation. To achieve this, it will seek to understand the physics behind THz plasmonic amplification in graphene devices and study the properties of new plasmonic 2D systems. The project will also re-examine current THz plasmonic amplification theories.
Objective
Thirty years ago Dyakonov and Shur opened a new field in solid-state physics and electronics - plasma-wave electronics. They theoretically predicted that: i) in nano-transistors, plasma waves may oscillate at THz frequencies far beyond the devices cut-off GHz frequencies, ii) THz radiation can be detected by plasma nonlinearities, and iii) the current flow can lead to the generation of THz radiation. The detection part of the plasmonics promise was proven and nowadays THz plasmonic detector arrays are widely used. In the case of emitters, the task turned out to be considerably more complicated. Only recently (PRX 10, 031004, 2020; with my teams participation) room temperature, current-driven amplification of incoming THz radiation has been demonstrated in an innovative double grating gate structures based on graphene, one of the most promising materials for plasmonics. These break-through results indicate that existing models of plasmonic systems should be reconsidered and that using new 2D materials or their heterojunctions with innovative geometries, may lead Towards on-chip plasmonics amplifiers of THz radiation, which is TERAPLASMs main objective. The experimental methodology will involve fabrication and THz spectroscopy studies of graphene and alternative-to-graphene unique HgTe and GaN-based systems with a high mobility 2D electron gas. This will allow finding the physical mechanisms responsible for the observed THz plasmonic amplification and select the optimum systems for THz devices. In parallel, theoretical research will develop physical models of THz plasmonic amplification studied in the experimental part of the project. By conducting extensive technological, spectroscopic, and theoretical research TERAPLASM will aim to answer the old basic physics and electronics questions on the feasibility of on-chip plasmonics amplifiers of THz radiation, with important potential applications in wireless telecommunication, biosensing, security, and others.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybiosensing
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphene
- natural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometry
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Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
01142 Warszawa
Poland