Cryogenically Enabled Ultrabroadband THz System-on-a-Chip
Abstract
THz technology has been long recognized for its promising potentials because of the unique properties of THz waves. However, tremendous technical challenges have made it extremely difficult to fully exploit this frequency band. Despite recent efforts in attempting to bridge the THz gap, most existing THz systems in practice nowadays are restricted to assemblies of discrete components, which are usually cumbersome and expensive, and in some cases, have unsatisfying performances. This has been one of the major obstacles that severely hinder the broader application of THz technologies. The proposed project aims to develop a novel THz system-on-a-chip (SOC) to address this critical challenge. This work will combine three research areas: high-temperature superconductor, silicon photonics, and THz technology, to take advantage of their individual advancements in the past decade. A hybrid material platform will be employed, using high-resistivity silicon and high-temperature superconductor BSCCO to build passive and active THz devices, respectively. Compared to their metallic counterparts, THz devices made of high-resistivity silicon are ideal for developing large-scale integrated circuits because of their superior loss performances. On the other hand, benefiting from its stack structure of layered intrinsic Josephson junctions, BSCCO has a much larger frequency tunability and therefore is more preferred for broadband applications over other solid-state options. When integrated on top of the THz silicon photonic circuits, BSCCO active components will coherently couple with the passive silicon devices, leading to THz SOCs with boosted device performances and previously unachievable functionalities. Although such systems will need cryogenic operations, they only require liquid nitrogen temperature which can be conveniently obtained at a low cost, thanks to the high critical temperature of BSCCO. The achieved THz SOC will be highly scalable and ultrabroadband. With a comprehensive on-chip signal handling capacity, it is suited for a broad range of practical applications without requiring any off-chip components.Upon successful completion, this work will produce a new knowledge base for THz integrated circuits on our hybrid photonic platform. The theoretical models and fabrication procedures will lay the groundwork for a large class of new devices enabled by this technology, as the integration between THz silicon photonics and BSCCO THz devices will break the fundamental limitation of both individual systems. Using this knowledge, a comprehensive THz photonic toolbox will be developed, composed of passive and active components that can be modularly assembled into large-scale THz SOCs for different functionalities or applications. A first-of-its-kind THz SOC prototype will be built and characterized to show the on-chip operation of a series of core functionalities, including THz generation, routing, manipulation, and detection, as a proof of principle. The outcome of the proposed work will produce peer-reviewed journal articles, major conference presentations, filed patents or patent applications, etc. Extensive collaboration and new funding opportunities are also expected. The proposed work represents a critical and indispensable technology for exploiting the electromagnetic energy in the less explored THz band, which has the potential to reshape the future of THz research. With the proposed multifunctional and highly scalable THz SOC, it will serve Navy#s immediate interest in developing 100+ GHz electronicsto support Navy and Marine Corp#s mission. The dramatically reduced cost and enhanced performance will ensure the readiness of thistechnology for practical applications and potential field deployment. Once successfully implemented, it will be a crucial step towards realizing full spectral awareness on Naval platforms, empowering Navy with unrivaled technological superiority in the global competition. Approved for Public Release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312144
Entities
People
- Xufeng Zhang
Organizations
- Northeastern University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy