Important note: 

Since the currently lifted-off restrictions allow physical presence in the class, the course will be given on Johanneberg campus with live lectures and seminars. Depending on the actual situation we reserve a possibility to change the teaching into remote mode.

Course-PM

RRY070 Millimeter wave and THz technology lp2 HT21 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Space, Earth and Environment

The complete course-PM as a PDF file can be found here.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen: Study plan

Course purpose

This course aims to introduce students to the problems of guiding, detecting and generating electromagnetic radiation at millimeter wavelengths (MM-waves) and at Terahertz frequencies. Through the course, students will receive lectures on the subjects outlined above and will additionally perform project integrated with laboratory work to acquire practical skills. A project work guided by teachers will focus students' studies on a deeper understanding of a selected problem within the course subject. The course goal is to provide students with a wide introduction to millimeter and sub-millimeter (Terahertz) technology for industrial applications, instrumentation in radio astronomy, environmental science and other applications. 

Learning objectives:

after completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• understand principals of building and methods of characterization of low-noise receivers for millimeter and Terahertz bands;
• understand limitations and advantages of MMIC, bolometric and heterodyne receivers and be able choosing technology suitable for particular frequency band and application;
• understand basic principles of operation of superconducting detector and mixer components such as TES, HEB, SIS;
• understand basic principles of building cryogenic HEMT amplifiers and Y-factor measurements of device noise temperature;
• understand principals of Gaussian beam technique and be able to simulate basic schemes of millimeter and Terahertz receiver coupling with antenna beam; understand basic principles, limitations and advantages of using Terahertz waveguides;
• understand principals of generation of MM-wave and Terahertz radiation;
• use knowledge on low-noise receiver technology for applications, e.g. radio astronomy, environmental science observations, or other applications; 

Contact details

Schedule

TimeEdit

Course design

Course content

The course largely relies on and uses the pre-required knowledge of microwave techniques, theory of transmission lines, and general understanding of physics. The course material covers the following topics:

• Noise and receiver properties at mm and submm frequencies, cryogenically operated receivers;
• Antenna - receiver coupling: Gaussian beam technique, Terahertz waveguides;
• Receiver types, e.g. direct detection (bolometric) and heterodyne, quasi-optical and waveguide-based; basics of operation for different type of receivers, schemes and applications
• Bolometric receivers: theory, practical designs, examples;
• Heterodyne SIS receivers: theory, design, examples. Superconducting tuning circuitries;  HEB heterodyne receivers: theory, design, examples.
• Terahertz MMICs: theory, design, examples.
• Generation of mm and submm waves: sources for local oscillators.
• HEMT cryogenic amplifiers: theory, design, examples.
• Superconductivity and thin-film processing for cryogenic and superconducting components: review of methods and technology.

Please note that the Project and Laboratory work are now integrated into one package. Students in group of 2 choose the project where they together go through the phases of device development by studying literature, choosing prototype design, optimizing it via HFSS simulations and finally measure performance of the designed device during laboratory measurements. We assume that during the entire project teachers help and advise students, 5 occasions are considered in the schedule. Final presentation of the project and its results are presented by each student individually. Students from the same group may share the presentation slides.

Course organisation

The course includes about 19 lectures, laboratory work, a course project (list of project topics will be offered to allow deeper studies on selected course material, e.g., all course events are compulsory and require student attendance.

Course literature

There is no dedicated course book. The recommended literature covers a wide course material, including journal papers and books and will be provided via direct links to pdf files or links via Chalmers Library access.

All necessary material such as Lab-manuals, lectures notes will be available on the course homepage.

Examination form:

To successfully pass the course, the student must:

1. Have attended at least 85% of the lectures.
2. Successfully completed the laboratory exercises.
3. Performed the project work.
4. Gather at least a total of 24 points (of maximum 60) from the quiz, project and final written examination

Changes made since the last occasion

Please note that the Project and Laboratory work are now integrated into one package. Students in group of 2 choose the project where they together go through the phases of device development by studying literature, choosing prototype design, optimizing it via HFSS simulations and finally measure performance of the designed device during laboratory measurements. We assume that during the entire project teachers help and advise students, 5 occasions are considered in the schedule. Final presentation of the project and its results are presented by each student individually. Students from the same group may share the presentation slides.