Proposal and proof-of-principle demonstration of an innovative all-in-one terahertz source using semiconductor nanophotonics materials

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 21:Electrical and electronic engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Wakayama University
• Principal Investigator: Ozaki Nobuhiko 和歌山大学, システム工学部, 教授 (30344873)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 池田 直樹 国立研究開発法人物質・材料研究機構, 技術開発・共用部門, 主任エンジニア (10415771) ; 小田 久哉 公立千歳科学技術大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (60405701)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: フォトニック結晶導波路 / テラヘルツ波源 / 差周波発生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, an ultra-small terahertz (THz) source was proposed based on semiconductor photonic crystal waveguides (PhC-WGs) with highly efficient difference frequency generation (DFG), and a proof-of-principle demonstration was performed. The structurally optimized PhC-WG provided a waveguide mode with low-group-velocity and low-dispersion (LVLD) for two introduced fundamental lights; thus, the electric fields of the lights were enhanced, and a phase matching between them was achieved. Numerical simulations indicated that the DFG intensity was enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude compared with that of the bulk material in the range of approximately 0.5-2 THz. The possibility of an ultra-compact all-in-one THz wave source using an integrated PhC-WG heterostructure was also demonstrated, including the fundamental light sources formed in two PhC-WGs connected to the LVLD PhC-WG.

Free Research Field

半導体材料、光応用

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によって、ナノフォトニクス材料を利用した高効率テラヘルツ(THz)波源開発の可能性が示された。この結果は、THzギャップを埋める新たなTHz波源の提供につながる意義ある成果といえる。既存光源を凌駕する超小型THz波源を半導体材料によって提供できるため、モバイル端末やウェアラブル端末など他の半導体デバイスとの融合による新たなTHz技術の応用展開も期待される。