Photomixer-waveguide coupling tapers
First Claim
1. A system for transmission of terahertz signals comprising:
- at least one terahertz device configured produce a terahertz electrical signal;
a terahertz waveguide operable at terahertz frequencies configured to transport the terahertz electrical signal, the terahertz waveguide defined by at least one conductor; and
a conductive mode-matching taper situated so as to couple the terahertz device to the terahertz waveguide so as to direct the terahertz electrical signal from the terahertz device to the terahertz waveguide.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for improving the performance of systems for generating and detecting electromagnetic radiation at terahertz (THz) frequencies. Embodiments of the systems and methods include the fabrication and use of coupling tapers to provide efficient transfer of THz radiation between a photomixer and a waveguide that supports a propagating THz mode. A representative system comprises of a photomixer to convert high-frequency components of an optical pump signal into corresponding electrical THz frequencies, a waveguide that supports a propagating THz mode, and a matching taper that effectively converts the highly localized currents generated by the photomixer to the mode supported by the waveguide.
54 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A system for transmission of terahertz signals comprising:
-
at least one terahertz device configured produce a terahertz electrical signal; a terahertz waveguide operable at terahertz frequencies configured to transport the terahertz electrical signal, the terahertz waveguide defined by at least one conductor; and a conductive mode-matching taper situated so as to couple the terahertz device to the terahertz waveguide so as to direct the terahertz electrical signal from the terahertz device to the terahertz waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A mode-matching taper, for coupling between a terahertz device and a terahertz waveguide, comprising:
-
a device port configured to couple to a terahertz device; a waveguide port configured to couple to the terahertz waveguide; a tapered metallic waveguide connecting the device port and the waveguide port, wherein a dimension of the tapered metallic waveguide transitions from a dimension associated with the device port to a dimension associated with the waveguide port. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method, comprising:
-
transmitting a terahertz electrical signal with a terahertz waveguide defined by at least one conductor; and coupling the terahertz electrical signal to a terahertz device with a conductive mode-matching taper situated between the terahertz waveguide and the terahertz device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification