TeraScan ultra
Ultra-high-precision comb-locked cw-terahertz platform
- Tunable yet precisely controlled THz source
- Spectral resolution as high as 1 Hz
- Enables photonic vector network analysis up to 5 THz
- For THz communication research, channel sounding, wafer inspection and high-resolution spectroscopy
The TeraScan ultra serves applications that require an ultimate stability of the frequency and phase of THz signals. Two diode lasers are locked to a single frequency comb, and a photomixer emitter converts their beat signal to a tunable, monochromatic THz wave. Owing to our proprietary “endless frequency shifter” concept, the output of the tunable laser remains precisely controlled even during a frequency scan. Thus, the extraordinary phase-noise stability of the frequency comb is transferred to the THz region. The system combines a bandwidth of 5 THz with single-Hz frequency resolution – a performance unmatched by any other THz platform.
Schematic of TeraScan ultra. The frequency comb is referenced to a 10 MHz GPS signal. Abbreviations: BPF = bandpass filter, TBPF = tunable bandpass filter, Tx = THz transmitter, RX = THz receiver.
-
Specification
Difference frequency tuning (Iaser) 0 – 10 THz Difference frequency tuning (THz emission) 20 GHz – 5 THz Tuning speed Up to 0.1 THz/s Frequency accuracy Up to 1 Hz, depending on clock reference. Calibration-free! Frequency resolution and step size Up to 1 Hz Terahertz power (typ.) 100 μW @ 100 GHz / 10 μW @ 500 GHz Terahertz emitter PCA-FD-1550-100-TX-1, InGaAs photodiode Terahertz receiver PCA-FD-1550-130-RX-3, Rh:InGaAs photomixer Antenna type Bow-tie Terahertz polarization Linear Waveguide-coupled terahertz antennas Upon request Modes of operation - Fixed frequency
- Frequency scan, user-selected range and speed
- Triggered step scan
Frequency comb MDFC Core 200+
Patented CERO (“zero-fCEO”) technology
fCEO = 0, by passive stabilization via difference frequency generationComb line spacing 200 MHz Integrated phase noise fCEO < 40 mrad (100 Hz .. 2 MHz), < 65 mrad (70 mHz .. 20 MHz) Optical bandwidth 80 .. 100 nm FWHM, with integrated extension module Tunable laser DLC CTL 1550
Tuning range 1510-1630 nm, mode-hop-free & computer-controlledFixed-frequency laser DL pro or DLC CTL at 1550 nm - Applications
- Downloads
-
Literature
- Scientific paper: S. Müller et al., Ultra-high precision comb-locked terahertz frequency-domain spectroscopy of whispering-gallery modes; APL Photon. 9 (2024) 076109
- Scientific paper: S. Müller et al., Photonic, broadband, and high-resolution characterization of a 415 GHz waveguide bandpass filter; IEEE Transact. Terahertz Science Technol. 15:4 (2025) 728
- Scientific paper: B. Krause et al., Terahertz photonic heterodyne spectral analysis with (sub-) kHz resolution and 6.5 THz frequency coverage; Preprint, accepted for publication in Nature Communication (2025).
- Application note: THz Communication Research
-
Related Products
- Frequency comb DFC CORE +
- Continuously tunable laser CTL
- Tunable external-cavity laser DL pro
- Cw-terahertz spectrometer TeraScan
- Photomixers
- Broadband time-domain terahertz spectrometer TeraFlash pro