Tunable Terahertz Source and Spectrometer

To address the Air Force need for a terahertz spectroscopy system consisting of a tunable terahertz (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. The system will offer tunable THz source energy from 0.1 to 7 THz at average power of 1 W CW output, and a spectrometer with spectral resolution of 150 MHz (25% better than the AF requirement). Innovative use of special crystals for the THz emitter and sensor will provide powerful and tunable THz radiation and detection. By varying the phase-matching angles of the THz emitter and sensor, the central frequency of the output THz wave is continuously tuned. In Phase I POC will determine the feasibility of TUTSS by designing and testing a laboratory breadboard prototype. In Phase II POC plans to develop, demonstrate, and validate the operational TUTSS system designed in Phase I.