UCLA

Terahertz quantum cascade lasers are compact, coherent sources of THz power that have drawn considerable attention in the past 10-15 years for their potential use in THz applications such as spectroscopy and imaging. One of the key developments required to further the usefulness of THz QCLs is robust, broadband tenability. In this work, I describe a new technique for tuning THz QCLs by incorporation MEMS fixed-fixed and fixed-free cantilever beams into a THz transmission line metamaterial resonant cavity. An analytic model for such THz transmission line metamaterials is demonstrated using transmission line theory and is supported by 2-D and 3-D finite element simulations. Proposed processes for fabricating tunable THz transmission line metamaterials are outlined and current progress on actual fabrication and device testing is reported.