May 20 2010
TOPTICA Photonics is the only company worldwide that serves researchers and engineers in both frequency-domain and time-domain terahertz spectroscopy, as well as in 3D terahertz imaging.
Cw photomixer with single-mode fiber pigtail.
This unique position is strengthened through a recent licensing agreement signed with T-Ray Science Inc. The agreement covers a fundamental patent on the use of terahertz photomixers.
Advantages of frequency-domain (continuous-wave, cw) terahertz techniques are spectral purity, excellent resolution and a high dynamic range. Core components of cw terahertz technologies are so-called photomixers, which convert near-infrared laser light into terahertz radiation.
Reacting to increasing market demands, TOPTICA designed a Spectroscopy Kit for cw terahertz experiments. State-of-the-art photomixers achieve a bandwidth up to 2 THz and a dynamic range up to 90 dB. The spectral resolution is better than 10 MHz and the all-fiber-based setup alleviates the need for cumbersome beam alignment. TOPTICA’s Spectroscopy Kit further features a proprietary, digital lock-in amplifier module, a low-noise transimpedance amplifier and an intuitive graphical user interface.
The Spectroscopy Kit, in particular, will benefit from the signed licensing agreement. T-Ray’s patent covers a coherent detection scheme, with one photomixer serving as terahertz transmitter, the second one as receiver. This enables highly sensitive measurements even of weak terahertz signals, e.g. in precision measurements in the field of trace gas detection. Both amplitude and phase of the terahertz wave are recorded.
TOPTICA’s terahertz Spectroscopy Kit has been designed for institutes and companies who want to develop their own, proprietary analytical setup. The open, multi-purpose design enables a convenient and flexible adaptation into any terahertz assembly.
TOPTICA’s compact cw terahertz system, with highest spectral resolution, will be on display at CLEO 2010 in San Jose, CA (USA).