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Sensitivity and noise in THz electro-optic upconversion radiometers.

Gabriel Santamaría-Botello¹, Zoya Popovic², Kerlos Atia Abdalmalak³

¹Signal Theory and Communications Department, Charles III University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. gasantam@pa.uc3m.es.

Scientific Reports

|June 12, 2020

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This study explores noise in room-temperature terahertz (THz) radiometers using THz-to-optical upconversion. Quantum-limited performance is achieved with optical heterodyne detection, outperforming current THz receivers.

Area of Science:

Optics and Photonics
Terahertz (THz) Technology
Quantum Optics

Background:

Room-temperature terahertz (THz) radiometers are crucial for various applications.
Existing THz receivers often require cryogenic cooling for optimal performance.
THz-to-optical upconversion offers a potential pathway for room-temperature THz detection.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the noise characteristics of room-temperature THz radiometers employing THz-to-optical upconversion.
To analyze the impact of different optical detection schemes on receiver noise.
To assess the potential of these upconversion-based receivers to outperform existing THz technologies.

Main Methods:

Utilized sum-frequency-generation (SFG) in high-quality factor (Q) whispering-gallery mode (WGM) resonators for THz-to-optical upconversion.

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Analyzed noise properties under coherent (homodyne/heterodyne) and incoherent optical detection.

Performed theoretical predictions based on noise analysis and photon conversion efficiency.

Main Results:

Efficient electro-optic modulation via SFG in WGM resonators does not introduce intrinsic noise.
Coherent optical detection (homodyne/heterodyne) leads to quantum-limited noise performance, comparable to conventional amplifiers and mixers.
The upconversion receiver demonstrates potential as a THz photon counter with optical domain counting.

Conclusions:

Upconversion-based room-temperature THz receivers can surpass state-of-the-art cooled and room-temperature receivers.
Performance enhancement is contingent on achieving a photon conversion efficiency greater than 1%.
While inherently narrow, the detection bandwidth can be broadened through engineered optical coupling mechanisms.