Menlo Systems present their novel TERA15-HP-TX high-power fiber-coupled broadband terahertz (THz) antennas in their TERA15 series, thereby setting the benchmark for efficiency and performance in the THz industry. The newly engineered antenna modules achieve record performance levels of up to 300 µW average generated THz power, up to 6 THz bandwidth as well as 110 dB dynamic range.

The TERA15-HP-TX modules represent a new era in THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS), enabling unprecedented flexibility and durability required to meet stringent industrial demands. The most recent technological innovation by Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) utilized in these modules is based on highly-optimized In-GaAs/InAlAs multi-layered mesa structures. These structures feature a wide photoconductive gap, permitting them to accommodate a bias voltage of up to 200 V as well as 50 mW optical input power at 100 MHz pulse repetition rate.

The largely enhanced THz power, combined with the improved signal-to-noise ratio, enable the THz characterization of strongly absorbing samples and the enhancement of imaging contrast, such as relevant for applications in biological or medical imaging, and in the depth profiling of thicker material layers.

The TERA15-HP-TX antennas are ideally suited for operation by transimpedance amplifiers (soon to be manufactured in-house by Menlo Systems) for further improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio and to avoid saturation effects. The new antennas are available as stand-alone components, are fully compatible with other Menlo Systems’ THz-TDS systems, and may be readily retrofitted to systems already in use upon request.

Typical THz time traces and spectrum of Menlo Systems' TERA15 antennas: