Agenda

ICE Seminar « Compact terahertz time-spectroscopy systems enabled by mode-locked laser diodes »

Jan. 7th 2021, 2 pm
Online event

Abstract

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is a spectroscopic method for the frequency range roughly between 100 GHz and 10 THz. Some materials, e.g. explosives, have a spectral fingerprint in this region. That makes the technology ideal for security applications. Further applications areas are communication, nondestructive testing, fundamental research, and material characterization. The development of THz-TDS is closely related to the advancement of ultrafast laser: First systems were driven by dye laser which were quickly replaced by solid state lasers. State-of-the-art systems are driven by more compact ultrafast fiber lasers. To further reduce costs and size of these systems, mode-locked laser diodes (MLLD) are an interesting alternative.

In this presentation, I will give a brief overview of THz-TDS and its applications. In the second part, I will present methods to reduce the size and costs of a THz-TDS system by employing MLLDs.

Bio

Jan C. Balzer was born in Unna, Germany, in 1984. He received the Dipl.-Ing. (FH) degree in telecommunications from the university of applied science Dortmund, Germany in 2008, the M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering and information technology from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany in 2010, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering for his work on ultrafast semiconductor lasers from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, in 2014.

In 2015, he joined as postdocteral research fellow the group of Prof. Martin Koch at the Philipp-Universität Marburg with his main research interests in THz technology and its application. Since 2017 he is assistant professor at the faculty of engineering at the University of Duisburg-Essen where he combines his knowledge of ultrafast semiconductor lasers with his expertise in system building of THz spectrometers.