Ultrafast THz Switches Using Perfectly Absorbing Metal Free Metasurfaces

Terahertz frequency ranges from 100GHz and 10THz, or wavelengths between 3mm and 30µm These waves can pass through a variety of dielectric and amorphous substances and has a wide range of applications Major types of terahertz technology systems available in the market include terahertz imaging and terahertz spectroscopy Recently, interest in terahertz communication technologies started to grow The global terahertz technology market is expected to increase from approximately $1599 million in 2018 to $4898 million in 2022 (CAGR of 3183%) Such a high growth rate compared to GDP is very attractive for new product development and introduction However, the present THz imaging systems are plagued by high size, weight and power (SWaP) that drive the cost of the systems The goal of this project is to rapidly commercialize a revolutionary ultra-fast switching technology using perfectly absorbing photoconductive metasurfaces that has been demonstrated by researchers from Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) This technology is key for development of sensitive, low power and compact Terahertz (THz) systems for imaging and spectroscopy The demonstration of a mini-array is the first step to enabling new applications in THz imaging and THz spectroscopy The critical component that the Phase I effort will focus on is the demonstration of THz photoconductive mini-array sensor architecture, with a 2x2 high-efficiency array bonded to a fanout The proposed effort leverages the experience of SK- IR, a small business that has worked closely with the Department of Defense agencies including Army Night Vision Laboratory, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on innovative concepts for infrared focal plane arrays (IRFPAs), with the expertise at DOE’s Sandia National Laboratory and the Center for Integrated Nanotechnology (CINT) on perfectly absorbing THz photoconductive metasurfaces At the end of the Phase I of this STTR project, the team will demonstrate a detector array that advances the state of the art Fig 1 captures the vision of the overall project