Beam shaping and steering components for use in the terahertz range.

This project will explore the design, simulation, fabrication and testing of materials and structures for the focusing, filtering and steering of terahertz radiation. The terahertz region sits between microwave and infrared in the electromagnetic spectrum but is reliant on bulky, and often expensive, lenses and parabolic mirrors for beam manipulation. This reliance poses significant challenges for the development of low cost, compact systems. In this project, research will be conducted to identify new materials and fabrication techniques for both diffractive and refractive optical components. A long-term goal is to introduce photosensitive micro- and nanoscale objects in/on to the fabricated THz optical components, enabling active beam control. This research could have an impact on a wide range of emerging applications for terahertz radiation including next-generation wireless communications, autonomous vehicle control, security scanning and bio-identification.