Tunable Terahertz Source and Spectrometer

To address the Air Force need for a terahertz (THz) spectroscopy system consisting of a tunable THz source capable of generating energy from 0.1 to 7 THz with 1 W continuous wave (CW) output power, and a THz spectrometer with better than 200 MHz spectral resolution, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Tunable THz Source and Spectrometer (TUTSS).  The proposed TUTSS is based on optical rectification of nonlinear chi^(2) medium for THz emitting and electro-optical sampling for THz detection.  Innovative use of special crystals for the THz emitter and sensor will provide both powerful and tunable THz radiation and detection.  In Phase I, POC designed, analyzed, and developed the necessary critical components to successfully demonstrate the feasibility of TUTSS with laboratory prototype that shows 0.1 to 7 THz frequency range and 150 MHz spectral resolution (25% better than the Air Force requirement).  Method and technology have been developed to reach 1 W output power to be addressed in Phase II.  In Phase II POC plans to develop, demonstrate, and validate the operational TUTSS system designed in Phase I. BENEFIT: The TUTSS system will benefit both the military and commercial sectors.  Military applications include use by the government to generate THz energy for medical imaging and security applications.  Commercial applications and potential markets for this technology include use by industry and academia to generate THz energy for biological/medical imaging and security applications.  This source could also be used in academia for basic scientific exploration of THz energy.