eTHz
PIPSS project
Both Gunn and mixer diodes will “power” future THz security imaging systems. These will be used in a stand-off mode (rather than a portal) and one idea for airport security is the concept of a ‘sensor corridor’. It is envisaged that one of each device will be used in each sensor; in addition to these a detector element will also be needed (but this does not form part of this PIPSS application). Taking each market sector in turn, for security applications namely, Airports, Nuclear facilities and Government buildings, there is the potential need for well in excess of 100K sensor units over the next several years, with market value for the components alone of several tens of millions GPB. Clearly there are many other sites to consider such as railway stations, places of education, shopping areas and sports stadiums which will make the market size even larger. The UK has arguably the best technology potential to bridge the gap that currently exists between existing solid sate technology offerings for THz and what is urgently required in the future as the frequency and power requirements become more and more demanding. Alongside security there are many other applications where this technology is needed, for example imaging in the medical and industrial markets and Space.
Project Activities
- Predictive models for Gunn Diodes (SILVACO)
- Improvement of 125 GHz sources based on existing GaAs technology
- Modification of existing GaAs technology by development of novel graded gap Gunn structures for 200 GHz operation
- Development of high efficiency varactor multipliers
- Power combining