MIR-THz Detectors and Sources For High Sensitivity Remote Sensing
The discoveries of novel materials and physical phenomena continuously drive technological advancements and their applications. So is the case for MIR-THz optoelectronics, operating roughly in the frequency range of f≈0.5-35THz. In this spectral range radiation penetrates through opaque materials without the risk of ionization, making MIR-THz radiation highly attractive for technological applications, such as contactless and non-destructive sensing in food manufacturing, chemical/biological hazard detection, medicine, security, rapid wireless communication.

UNMET NEED
Despite the acknowledged importance, applications involving MIR-THz are currently hindered by the relatively limited materials’ response in this spectral range, which translates to sparsity of high-performance and low-cost optoelectronic devices. Despite the efforts invested in recent years to improve MIR-THz technologies, high-performance optoelectronics devices are still relatively cumbersome and costly, as they rely mainly upon Helium-based cryogenic cooling and/or strong femto-second lasers for their operation.

OUR SOLUTION
Based on novel optical excitation, which have recently been discovered in Bilayer graphene systems, we can develop a new platform for compact, low-cost, electrically tunable, and high-performance THz optoelectronic detectors and sources. On the detection side, we can realize SNR and sensitivities that are between 2-4 orders-of-magnitude larger than the state-of-the-art, and at liquid Nitrogen temperatures (77K), achieving unprecedented sensitivity and eliminating the need for He-based cooling. On the sources side, we can develop a new class of much simpler and compact sources, in the form of high-brightness, broadband, and electrically tunable THz light-emitting-diodes (LEDs), with power emission in the range of laser-based sources.

APPLICATIONS
The most hindering aspect of the wide use of MIR-THz sensing in the industry is the low limit-of-detection (LOD) parameter – there is just not enough sensitivity in current MIR-THz systems for any practical usage. However, with the increased performance of our detectors and sources, these could open the following industries for regular use of MIR-THz sensing

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Provisional patent application – METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HANDLING RADIATION IN LONG-WAVELENGTH AND FAR INFRARED RANGE, No. 63/401,666, Priority Date 28 Aug 2022