Design and Fabrication of Integrated Oscillator Circuits with Superlattice Electronic Devices

This project concerns the integration of a semiconductor device and a resonant circuit to form an oscillator at terahertz frequencies. The terahertz frequency range is located between the microwave and mid-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It has long resisted full commercial exploitation owing to difficulties in fabricating convenient sources and detectors in large numbers. State-of-the-art results were achieved with superlattice electronic devices (SLEDs) in resonant waveguide circuits and required well-established, but extensive manual assembly. Integration of resonant circuits and SLEDs greatly facilitates portable commercial applications such as medical diagnostics and ultra-wideband wireless communications far beyond current 5G technology. The PhD project will develop and study various types of integrated structures and hence greatly enhance the performance boundaries of SLEDs. The project will involve device and high-frequency circuit simulations, a range of micro-fabrication techniques, and precision high-frequency measurements.