Active gas sensing with a highly-sensitive sub-terahertz receiver utilizing a superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixer and a photonics-based local oscillator

We developed an active gas sensing system with a highly- sensitive sub-terahertz (THz) wave receiver consisting of a superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixer and a photonics-based THz-wave local oscillator. Continuous monitoring of the gas contents in the gas cell was successfully carried out with the developed system. The high sensitivity of the developed THz-wave receiver makes it possible to extend the detection range up to 30 m.

[1]  Hiroshi Ito Photonic terahertz-wave generation using uni-traveling-carrier photodiodes , 2006, SPIE Optics East.

[2]  Roger L. Freeman Telecommunication Transmission Handbook , 1975 .

[3]  Nachappa Gopalsami,et al.  Millimeter-wave radar sensing of airborne chemicals , 2001 .

[4]  Hiromasa Ito,et al.  Frequency-agile terahertz-wave spectrometer for high-resolution gas sensing , 2007 .

[5]  T. Nagatsuma,et al.  Active gas sensing with sub-terahertz waves reflected from a wall , 2008, 2008 33rd International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves.

[6]  T. Nagatsuma,et al.  CW terahertz-wave source based on photonic millimeter-wave generation and its application for spectroscopic measurement , 2007, 2007 Joint 32nd International Conference on Infrared and Millimeter Waves and the 15th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics.

[7]  Sheng-Cai Shi,et al.  An Octave Bandwidth SIS Mixer for Accurate and Compact Terahertz Spectrometers , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity.

[8]  A. Cuisset,et al.  A compact CW-THz spectrometer for applications to gas phase identification and quantification of multiple species , 2007, 2007 Joint 32nd International Conference on Infrared and Millimeter Waves and the 15th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics.

[9]  Thomas M. Goyette,et al.  A fast scan submillimeter spectroscopic technique , 1997 .

[10]  Didier Lippens,et al.  Far-infrared cw difference-frequency generation using vertically integrated and planar low temperature grown GaAs photomixers: application to H2S rotational spectrum up to 3 THz , 2004 .

[11]  Markus Behnke,et al.  Fast analysis of gases in the submillimeter∕terahertz with “absolute” specificity , 2005 .

[12]  Y. Zhang,et al.  THz spectroscopy through a high-pressure combustion system , 2008, 2008 33rd International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves.

[13]  Francis Hindle,et al.  Detection and quantification of multiple molecular species in mainstream cigarette smoke by continuous-wave terahertz spectroscopy. , 2006, Optics letters.

[14]  H. Ito,et al.  Broadband-Frequency-Tunable Sub-Terahertz Wave Generation Using an Optical Comb, AWGs, Optical Switches, and a Uni-Traveling Carrier Photodiode for Spectroscopic Applications , 2008, Journal of Lightwave Technology.