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Integrated optoelectronic terahertz receivers

Belio-Apaolaza, Inigo; (2025) Integrated optoelectronic terahertz receivers. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London). Green open access

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Abstract

Photonic technologies offer intrinsic advantages in terahertz generation and detection, making them key enablers for a wide range of applications. In terahertz receivers, these advantages are imparted to local oscillator (LO) generation and distribution, providing ultra-high-frequency tunability, remote signal distribution, and compatibility with existing 1550 nm equipment. Wireless communications at 300 GHz, fully enabled by photonics, can leverage these features for efficient and seamless convergence with fibre networks. However, current photonic-based tera hertz receivers exhibit higher conversion loss compared to state-of-the-art electronic solutions. This thesis introduces an alternative optoelectronic terahertz receiver concept based on photonically pumped Schottky mixers. By integrating low-barrier Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) with uni-travelling-carrier photodiodes (UTC-PDs), this approach combines high-performance down-conversion efficiency with the advantages of photonic LO signal generation and distribution. The modelling, design, and characterisation of such receivers are presented. The study first focuses on integrating UTC-PDs and SBDs, designing three subharmonic receivers operating at 220–330 GHz. The first is a monolithic receiver using InP Schottky contacts with a standard UTC-PD epitaxy. The second and third explore hybrid integration with InGaAs air-bridged SBDs: a quasi-optical receiver and a rectangular waveguide (WR3) receiver. The quasi-optical receiver was fabricated and tested, along with a nonintegrated receiver used to validate the concept and provide a performance com parison. Results indicate a minimum conversion loss of approximately 14 dB the non-integrated and 18 dB for the integrated receiver, approaching the state-of-the-art in this frequency band. The UTC-PD is shown to provide sufficient LO power to saturate the mixer response, and the modelling and design process is vali-dated through agreement between simulations and measurements. To showcase the receiver’s potential for wireless communications, a multi-channel 300 GHz link was demonstrated, achieving an aggregate data rate of 180 Gbps.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Qualification: Ph.D
Title: Integrated optoelectronic terahertz receivers
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request.
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Electronic and Electrical Eng
UCL
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10212692
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