Vector Network Analysers (VNA) are the electronics industry instrumentation platform for calibrated phase-sensitive measurements, using standardized coaxial cables and connectors which are at their physical limit for a maximum frequency around 220 GHz. Above this frequency, probing becomes critical and costly rectangular waveguide extension heads must be used which segment the spectrum into separate frequency bands that prevent calibrated measurements across the spectrum. TERAmeasure challenges the current measurement paradigm in the millimetre (MMW, 30 GHz–300 GHz) and Terahertz (THz, 300 GHz–3 THz) frequency ranges, developing a novel concept that unlocks the entire spectrum.
The higher frequency bands in the millimeter and Terahertz range are being considered for high-speed wireless communications in the 802.11ad Wi-Fi standard. At these bands, there is available bandwidth to deliver faster, higher-quality video, and multimedia content and services. Other applications for these high frequencies are non-destructive testing and medical applications, where have an advantage over x-rays for not being an ionizing radiation which can be used for skin burn wound diagnostics as well as skin cancer detection.
The major roadblock for the development of systems operating in these frequency bands is the lack of broadband technologies. Current technology relies on harmonic multiplication to generating signals at these ranges and to rectangular metal waveguide interconnects, both of which contribute to the segmentation of the frequency spectrum into separate bands. Because different frequency bands require different multiplier chain, it is not possible to use harmonic multiplication to generate frequencies over a wide frequency range. In addition, the size of a rectangular waveguide (known as aperture size) allows to cover a limited frequency range.
TERAmeasure vision is to establish the basis for a radically new measurement paradigm in the millimeter and Terahertz frequency ranges, overcoming the current obstacles to better measurements, which involves eliminating the frequency banded nature of rectangular waveguides and providing metrology-grade results across the full frequency range. To develop this vision we combine photonic integration technology, to realize a continuously tunable photonic-based signal source, with silicon dielectric waveguides, to create a novel non-contact ultrabroadband interconnect, which can operate continuously over the entire MMW and THz frequency spectrum.
