Chip-scale Programmable Terahertz Surfaces through Inverse Design
Abstract
Spatio-temporal control, synthesis and detection of electromagnetic fields at deep sub-wavelength scales that is dynamically reconfigurable at high speed has been a pursuit of research in electromagnetic interfaces across the spectrum from radio frequencies to terahertz and optical frequencies. Enabling such programmable interfaces at THz frequencies, between 0.1-3.0 THz, can enable transformative changes in the field enabling a wide array of new applications across sensing, imaging and communication. In this proposal, we present the basic research approaches to realize programmable THz surfaces on chip through inverse design methodologies exploiting sub-wavelength field synthesis and manipulation and understand their fundamental limits. A classical THz system design paradigm follows a methodology of combining of a finite set of locally optimized electromagnetic structures and circuit blocks that are connected to achieve the desired end-to-end function. It can be noted that while the modularity of thee approach helps in the design process, the granularity of these functions of these unit elements limits the design space, achievable functionalities and optimality of performance. An inverse design approach that aims to create EM structures trough a global optimization of electrical and magnetic field partitions, that achieve a desired functionality without using the restrictive space of the unit element, on the other hand, has been shown to be extremely powerful in breaking the limitations of this intuition-based approach. The goal of this proposal is to enable a new design space for programmable THz surfaces through 1) Inverse designed THz electromagnetic structures with active devices, 2) Dynamically programmable THz surfaces, and 3) Understanding fundamental limits of electromagnetic field transformations and optimal design methodologies. We will theoretically and experimentally demonstrate new THz passive structures including passive components such as new multi-frequency, compact and efficient THz components, beamformer and surfaces on-chip. We will also explore the fundamental limits of electromagnetic structures and their properties, and how close can the proposed designs achieve near the global optimal. Probing these unanswered questions will not only open up a new design space, but also enable programmable THz surfaces for a wide range of new applications in communication, sensing, imaging and radars.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110314
Entities
People
- Kaushik Sengupta
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Princeton University
- United States Army