By Asma Jlassi |
07/02/2022
Terahertz Technology?
The Terahertz (THz) range, spanning frequencies from 100 GHz to 10 THz, offers a unique window into materials opaque to visible and IR light, allowing for "internal" viewing of substances like plastics and cardboard. With its high chemical selectivity and strong water absorption, THz technology promises revolutionary applications in fields from biochemistry to wireless communication. However, challenges like atmospheric decay and the need for advanced manufacturing techniques limit its use, driving researchers, including the 6G community, to explore innovative solutions. EMWorks supports these efforts with vital modeling and simulation tools, contributing to the advancement of THz applications.
EMS and HFWorks for Terahertz devices
Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) are suitable for the actuation and tunning of terahertz devices; EMWorks’ electromechanical package, EMS, can readily be used to design and optimize MEMS components used in such devices. At the terahertz frequencies, MEMS devices, such as MEMS switches and MEMS THz-to-IR thermal Sensors, are usually very small, i.e. in the order of micrometers; hence the modeling and simulation of such devices require multi-physics capabilities. EMS is equipped with built-in electromagnetic, thermal, and structural solvers, integrated in one single environment; it can be used to study the most intricate MEMS issues such as on-chip mechanical movement and terahertz modulation. Below is a MEMS actuator modeled with EMS:
Displacement plot of a MEMS micro-actuator example
Once energized and actuated, terahertz devices need to communicate either through waveguides or free space, using antennas. In both cases, very high-frequency electromagnetic simulation is needed to compute quantities such as insertion and return losses, impedance, propagation constant, electric and magnetic fields, and antenna parameters at terahertz frequencies; HFWorks is well-suited and fully equipped to compute such quantities with high level of accuracy; below, are two examples modeled by HFWorks:
- Ridged microwave filter for a frequency band ranging from 160GHz to 360GHz
- Coplanar stripline bandpass filter for a frequency band ranging from 20GHz to 1300GHz.
E-Field plot and S-parameter results of the Ridged MW Filter example
E-Field plot and S-parameter results of the Coplanar Stripline Filter example
EMWorks' EMS and HFWorks tools are pivotal in advancing Terahertz (THz) technology, addressing the critical challenges of atmospheric decay and precision manufacturing. By enabling detailed simulation and optimization of THz devices, from MEMS components to antennas and waveguides, they foster innovation in biochemistry, medical imaging, and future wireless communications. This collaboration marks a significant step towards harnessing the full potential of THz technology, driving its application across various fields.