Amplifier based broadband pixel for sub-millimeter wave imaging

Stephen Sarkozy; Kevin M. Leong; Richard Lai; Xiaobing Mei; Wayne Yoshida; Michael D. Lange; Jane Lee; William R. Deal; Jonathan J. Drewes

doi:10.1117/1.OE.51.9.091602

22 May 2012 Amplifier based broadband pixel for sub-millimeter wave imaging

Stephen Sarkozy, Kevin M. Leong, Richard Lai, Xiaobing Mei, Wayne Yoshida, Michael D. Lange, Jane Lee, William R. Deal, Jonathan J. Drewes

Author Affiliations +

Funded by: JIEDDO Long Range Personnel Imager Program

Optical Engineering, Vol. 51, Issue 9, 091602 (May 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.51.9.091602

Abstract

Broadband sub-millimeter wave technology has received significant attention for potential applications in security, medical, and military imaging. Despite theoretical advantages of reduced size, weight, and power compared to current millimeter wave systems, sub-millimeter wave systems have been hampered by a fundamental lack of amplification with sufficient gain and noise figure properties. We report a broadband pixel operating from 300 to 340 GHz, biased off a single 2 V power supply. Over this frequency range, the amplifiers provide > 40 dB gain and <8 dB noise figure, representing the current state-of-art performance capabilities. This pixel is enabled by revolutionary enhancements to indium phosphide (InP) high electron mobility transistor technology, based on a sub-50 nm gate and indium arsenide composite channel with a projected maximum oscillation frequency fmax>1.0 THz. The first sub-millimeter wave-based images using active amplification are demonstrated as part of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization Longe Range Personnel Imager Program. This development and demonstration may bring to life future sub-millimeter-wave and THz applications such as solutions to brownout problems, ultra-high bandwidth satellite communication cross-links, and future planetary exploration missions.

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Stephen Sarkozy, Kevin M. Leong, Richard Lai, Xiaobing Mei, Wayne Yoshida, Michael D. Lange, Jane Lee, William R. Deal, and Jonathan J. Drewes "Amplifier based broadband pixel for sub-millimeter wave imaging," Optical Engineering 51(9), 091602 (22 May 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.51.9.091602

Published: 22 May 2012

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