TOPTICA Photonics, a global leader in precision laser systems, proudly announces the launch of the TeraScan ultra – an ultra-high-precision continuous-wave (cw) terahertz platform featuring comb-locked stability and unmatched spectral resolution down to 1 Hz.
The TeraScan ultra is designed to meet the most demanding requirements in THz communications research, channel sounding, wafer inspection, and high-resolution spectroscopy. With a bandwidth of up to 5 THz and ultra-low phase noise, it sets a new benchmark in the generation and control of tunable terahertz radiation.
At the heart of the system are two diode lasers – one tunable, one fixed – both locked to a single optical frequency comb. A photomixer emitter converts the optical beat signal into a tunable, monochromatic THz wave. TOPTICA’s proprietary “endless frequency shifter” ensures seamless frequency tuning while maintaining absolute control over phase and frequency – a crucial requirement for applications like photonic vector network analysis.
The system uses state-of-the-art InGaAs photomixers: a photodiode emitter and a Rh:InGaAs photomixer receiver, both packaged into compact, fiber-coupled modules. Operation modes include fixed frequency, sweep, and triggered step scan – fully software-controlled.
TOPTICA’s TeraScan ultra is ideal for researchers who demand ultimate frequency stability, scanning flexibility, and sub-Hz phase coherence across the full terahertz spectrum.
Features:
- Tunable yet precisely controlled THz source
- Spectral resolution as high as 1 Hz
- Enables photonic vector network analysis up to 5 THz
- For THz communication research, channel sounding, wafer inspection and high-resolution spectroscopy
The TeraScan ultra serves applications that require an ultimate stability of the frequency and phase of THz signals. Two diode lasers are locked to a single frequency comb, and a photomixer emitter converts their beat signal to a tunable, monochromatic THz wave. Owing to our proprietary “endless frequency shifter” concept, the output of the tunable laser remains precisely controlled even during a frequency scan. Thus, the extraordinary phase-noise stability of the frequency comb is transferred to the THz region. The system combines a bandwidth of 5 THz with single-Hz frequency resolution – a performance unmatched by any other THz platform.
Schematic of TeraScan ultra. The frequency comb is referenced to a 10 MHz GPS signal. Abbreviations: BPF = bandpass filter, TBPF = tunable bandpass filter, Tx = THz transmitter, RX = THz receiver.
Download datasheet here.
