Apparatus and method for generating THz wave by heterodyning optical and electrical waves

An apparatus and method for generating a terahertz (THz) wave are provided. The apparatus comprises: an fiber optic probe injecting an optical wave transmitted through an optical fiber into a device under test (DUT); a driving oscillator generating and injecting an electrical wave into the DUT; and the device under test (DUT) generating a THz wave using the produced optical and electrical waves.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0124125, filed on Dec. 7, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for generating a terahertz (THz) wave, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for generating a THz wave by heterodyning optical wave and electrical wave.

2. Description of the Related Technology

Terahertz (THz) waves can be generated by photo-mixing using a fiber optic probe (FOP) and an objective lens. The photo-mixing is performed by injecting the coupled laser beams into a high-speed and high-frequency semiconductor device through an optical lens or a single-mode optical fiber, and generating and detecting microwave and THz waves. However, in this case, because the diameter of the laser beam is much larger than semiconductor devices, degradation of the stability of a detected signal and the high noise figure arises from lack of the device accessibility and scanning performance of FOP.

THz waves can also be generated by heterodyning two optical waves. The heterodyning of the two optical waves is performed by injecting optical beams with frequencies ω1and ω2come from two lasers into a near-field fiber optic probe (NFOP) using an optical coupler. Then, through the interaction between a high-speed and high-frequency device and an optical wave of a frequency ωb(=ω1˜ω2) come from a probe tip (end) with a diameter of less than 0.1 μm, a millimeter wave with a frequency (ωb/2π) corresponding to the above-described frequency difference (ω1˜ω2) is generated and detected. Thereby, from this method, the resolution and noise figure of the mixed light are improved.

However, it is found that using the high-speed and high-frequency InP-based hetero-junction bipolar transistor (HBT), whenever high frequency characteristics are measured under 1 THz, the practical characteristics are considerably different from the simulated results. Therefore, the heterodyne method of two optical waves has limitations to evaluate characteristics of high-speed and high-frequency devices in a range from 0.1 to 10 THz.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for generating a terahertz (THz) wave with wide tunability in a THz region, high frequency stability, and high propagation quality by heterodyning optical and electrical waves using a near-field fiber optic probe (NFOP).

According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for generating a terahertz (THz) wave is provided and the apparatus comprising: an fiber optic probe (FOP) injecting an optical wave transmitted through an optical fiber into a device under test (DUT); a driving oscillator generating and injecting an electrical wave into the DUT; and the device under test (DUT) generating a THz wave using the injected optical and electrical waves.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of generating a THz wave is provided and the method comprising: setting a reference point to adjust a distance between a DUT and an fiber optic probe; and positioning the FOP at the reference point, and injecting an optical wave in a first direction into the fiber optic probe to scan the DUT while injecting an electrical wave in a second direction into the DUT to generate a THz wave.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary implementations of the invention are shown.

FIG. 1shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus for generating a terahertz (THz) wave by heterodyning optical and electrical signals according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus for generating the THz wave includes first and second laser sources1and2, an optical coupler3, an optical fiber4, a fiber optic probe5, a 100 GHz W-band probe6, and a driving oscillator7.

InFIG. 1, reference numeral8denotes a device under test (DUT).

Furthermore,FIG. 1illustrates a THz wave detecting system including a 200 GHz G-band probe11, a Bias-Tee as a signal divider12, a local oscillator10, a mixer13, and a spectrum analyzer14, which detects a THz wave generated by the THz wave generating apparatus.

In addition, a precision parameter analyzer15, a lock-in amplifier as an amplifier16, a controller with GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus)17, and a precision actuator as an actuator18may be further provided to adjust a distance between the fiber optic probe5and the DUT8and to obtain a THz wave in the range of the desired frequency band according to the detection result.

The first and second laser sources1and2generates optical beams having different frequencies ω1and ω2required for the generation of a THz wave. The optical coupler3combines the two optical beams to generate an optical wave with a frequency ωb(=ω1−ω2). The optical coupler3may be a 2×2 coupler. One come from the optical coupler3is injected into the fiber optic probe (FOP)5through the optical fiber4, and the other from the optical coupler3is fed to an optical spectrum analyzer (not shown here) to monitor optical power or frequency.

The optical fiber4may be a low-loss optical fiber, and the fiber optic probe5may be a near-field fiber optic probe (NFOP) formed at an end of the optical fiber4attached to the actuator18.

Since a tapered tip of the FOP5has a sub-micron diameter, the optical wave incident a surface of the DUT8has a sub-micron diameter and a minimum resolution of 20 nm approximately. A distance between the tapered tip of the FOP5and the DUT8may be 0.1 μm.

In order to obtain a THz wave with wide tunability, high frequency stability, and high propagation quality including high resolution and low noise figure, a millimeter wave generated by the driving oscillator7with a 100 GHz W-band probe6as well as the optical wave is injected into the DUT8. The optical wave and the millimeter wave injected into the DUT8are heterodyned to generate a THz wave or sub-THz wave.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the DUT8ofFIG. 1. The DUT8is a hetero-junction bipolar transistor (HBT) fabricated on an InP substrate21and may have a double gate structure to obtain a precise output.

When the optical wave of frequency ωbis incident to DUT8through the fiber optic probe (FOP)5, the FOP5may be located at a predetermined point of the HBT8or may scan across a source (collector)22, a gate (base)23, and a drain (emitter)24in an arrow direction25or a direction opposite to the arrow direction25.

The millimeter wave generated by the driving oscillator7is injected in an arrow direction26through the W-band probe6. For reference, the W-band probe6is a high-frequency coplanar probe with microelectrode of an approximately 5 μm diameter and with a contact electrode of a few microns in size.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bare perspective views of the fiber optic probe (FOP)5according to an embodiment of the present invention and a conventional FOP34, respectively. Referring toFIG. 3A, the FOP5according to the present embodiment includes an optical waveguide31, a tapered fiber region32, and a tip33. The optical wave may be transmitted through the optical waveguide31without loss. The tip33has a diameter much smaller than the wavelength of the optical wave. Since the tip33which the optical wave passes out has a diameter of 0.1 μm, a beam of the optical wave incident on the HBT8has a diameter less than 0.1 μm. Referring toFIG. 3B, the conventional FOP34has an inner diameter from 10 to 20 μm and the wave length of the optical wave is much longer than a size of the DUT8. Accordingly, lack of the device accessibility and scanning performance, degradation of the stability of a detected signal and the high noise figure arises.

Fiber optic probes have been conventionally used only in imaging and spectroscopy of ultra-small electronic devices. However, since the near-field fiber optic probe (NFOP)5according to the present invention has a diameter from 0.05 to 0.1 μm, the NFOP5can not only verify the circuit pattern of the high-speed and high-frequency devices but also generate and detect a high frequency wave through photo-mixing method. Consequently, the NFOP5according to the present invention can be developed as a key component in the field of THz wave photonics, such as a high-resolution and ultra-small switch.

The THz wave generated by heterodyning the optical and electrical waves can be detected by the G-band probe11. The G-band probe11can tap a 200 GHz signal.

The signal divider12divides the THz wave tapped by the G-band probe11into an RF signal and a low frequency signal, and may employ a bias tee.

The divided RF signal is mixed with an output signal of the local oscillator10by the mixer13and converted into an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The frequency characteristics of the converted IF signal are analyzed by the spectrum analyzer14.

FIG. 4shows the optical response characteristics of IF signal converted from the THz wave as shown in the spectrum analyzer14. Namely, the optical response characteristics are obtained by down-converting the THz wave of 180 GHz through the G-band probe11into the IF frequency. Referring toFIG. 4, the THz wave, namely, a down-converted peak is detected at a reference numeral41.

Meanwhile, a photocurrent is measured from the down-converted low frequency signal using the precision parameter analyzer15. A value of the photocurrent measured by the precision parameter analyzer15reflects the distance between the tip33and the DUT8. The distance between the tip33and the DUT8can be adjusted to be approximately 0.1 μm according to the shear force feedback principle.

The photocurrent itot(t) measured by the precision parameter analyzer15is given by

In consequence of Equation 1, an up-converted frequency and a down-converted frequency are produced through the modulation of the total photocurrent.

The amplifier16amplifies the photocurrent measured by the precision parameter analyzer15, and may be a low noise lock-in amplifier.

The control unit with GPIB17sets a reference point to adjust the distance between the fiber optic probe (FOP)5and the DUT8, more precisely, between the tip33and the DUT8. Next, the control unit with GPIB17drives the actuator18to position the FOP5at the reference point. When the THz wave is generated from the DUT8, the controller17drives the actuator18with reference to an output from the amplifier16to control the distance between the FOP5and the DUT8. The actuator17may be a nano-precision actuator including a small vibrator.

FIG. 5shows the optical response characteristics of a THz wave generated by the present invention, showing signal power (dBm) as a function of frequency in the ranging from 160 to 190 GHz. Referring toFIG. 5, the power is almost maintained as a constant value of 55 dBm over a wide frequency band of about 30 GHz.

Therefore, it can be noted that wide-band tunability and high-frequency stability are obtained.

According to the present invention, since THz waves are generated by heterodyning optical and electric waves, the THz waves have high frequency stability and high propagation quality, namely high resolution and low noise figure.

Furthermore, since the near-field fiber optic probe (NFOP) is controlled by the nano-precision actuator, there is no need to use a conventional optical microscope to adjust the position of the fiber optic probe (FOP).

Moreover, utilization of the THz wave range defined as a frequency from 0.1 to 10 THz using a high-speed and high-frequency electronic devices can be facilitated, the apparatus or receiver etc. for generating and/or detecting a THz wave can be miniaturized, a high frequency source can be developed, and a THz wave electronic devices fabricated by various materials can be developed.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary implementations thereof using specific terms, the implementations and terms have been used to explain the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention defined by the claims. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the technology that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.