Periodic Reporting for period 3 - TeraSHAPE (Terahertz Waveform Synthesis and Analysis Using Hybrid Photonic-Electronic Circuits)
Période du rapport: 2021-05-01 au 2022-10-31
TeraSHAPE aims at overcoming these limitations by establishing the methodological and technological foundations of novel signal processing concepts in the frequency range between 100 GHz and 1 THz. By combining massively parallel processing in digital electronic circuits with synthesis and analysis of broadband waveforms in the optical domain, analogue signal processing bandwidths of hundreds of gigahertz will come into reach. This approach can capitalize on great progress in the fields of photonic integrated circuits and optical frequency combs, which act as precise references for broadband signal generation and detection. Specifically, we exploit powerful photonic integrated circuits (PIC) for spectrally sliced processing of phase-locked optical carriers that are derived from chip-scale frequency comb sources. To convert waveforms between optical and THz frequencies, TeraSHAPE will explore novel concepts for ultra-fast electro-optic modulators and photodetectors with bandwidths of hundreds of gigahertz. Advances on the device level will be complemented by scalable assembly concepts for high-performance systems, where TeraSHAPE will explore three-dimensional additive fabrication techniques both for hybrid photonic integration and for realizing sub-mm waveguides for THz signals. The viability and the application potential of the TeraSHAPE concepts will be explored and demonstrated in dedicated experiments that target selected applications of high relevance, comprising, e.g. high-speed wireless communications in future sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks or THz signal processing for scientific applications.