Terahertz coherent receiver using a single resonant tunnelling diode.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Electrical Engineering
• Applied Sciences

Background:

• Terahertz (THz) electromagnetic waves offer advanced application potential.
• Developing compact and sensitive THz receivers is crucial for these applications.
• Existing THz systems often face limitations in size, sensitivity, and power consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a simple, highly sensitive coherent detection system for THz waves.
• To enable high-speed wireless communication in the THz frequency range.
• To reduce the size and power requirements of THz systems for broader adoption.

Main Methods:

• A coherent detection system was designed using a single resonant tunnelling diode (RTD) oscillator.
• Self-oscillating mixing was employed with an RTD oscillator injection-locked by a carrier wave.
• The system was tested for THz wireless communication, including real-time transmission.

Main Results:

• Coherent detection demonstrated a sensitivity enhancement of over 20 dB compared to direct detection.
• A 30-Gbit/s real-time error-free THz wireless transmission was achieved.
• This represents the highest data rate for electronic systems without error correction to date.

Conclusions:

• The proposed RTD-based coherent detection system significantly enhances THz receiver sensitivity.
• The system enables high-speed, error-free THz wireless communication.
• This technology has the potential to advance diverse fields such as sensing, imaging, and ranging by reducing THz system size and power consumption.