Terahertz Materials Analysis Center
- Reference number
- RIF14-0055
- Start and end dates
- 160101-211231
- Amount granted
- 15 000 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Linköping University
- Research area
- Materials Science and Technology
Summary
The goal of this proposal is to build upon current developments of the only Terahertz (THz) ellipsometer in Europe and establish a central facility at Linköping University: The Terahertz Materials Preparation and Analysis Center (THeMPAC). We aim at expanding the ellipsometer capabilities by incorporating closed-cycle superconducting magnet cryostat in order to develop THz Optical Hall effect instrument operating at variable temperatures (1.6K to 400K) and variable magnetic fields (-10T to +10T), and expand the spectral range from 0.1-1.0 THz to 20 THz. The THz Optical Hall effect instrument can determine in a contactless manner the electronic and spin transport properties, and their distributions in multilayer or nanoscopically inhomogeneous samples. This instrument will be world-unique and will enable for the first time to explore low-excitation phenomena in condensed and soft matter, thus opening new research fields in material science, physics and life sciences. A dedicated data storage and analysis lab will also be established in order to enable users to access data and software, and to perform data analysis. Special focus will be put to develop the facility as open and e-access infrastructure where users from Academia and Industry will be trained and serviced. The vision is that THeMPAC will address current and future needs of fundamental and applied research in materials science, physics, chemistry, life sciences, defense, medicine, and ultra-fast communication.
Popular science description
The Terahertz Materials Analysis Center (THeMAC) will be world-unique open-access facility that provides user services for characterizing properties and phenomena of materials, devices and substances in the THz (to FIR) regime for the needs of Swedish and international academia and industry. TheMAC will enable Swedish research teams to develop understanding and create new basic knowledge about the THz transport, optical and magnetic properties of materials and device heterostructures that are critically needed for their implementation in various applications. TheMAC will provide invaluable input for the development of next generation energy-efficient ultra-fast electronic transistors. The studies on materials like textiles, plastics, paper, etc. performed at TheMAC will provide materials data in the THz range, which is urgently needed for security scanning applications of harmful or illegal substances. TheMAC will also provide accurate characterization of human skin, needed in order to detect explosives or harmful biological agents hidden by cloth, and also for detection of skin cancer. Furthermore, the TheMAC will enable establishing the transport properties of polymers, and novel materials such as graphene and 2D materials, which are needed for the development of next-generation planar THz transistor technologies and in implementation in low-cost and bio-compatible light emitting diodes and solar cells. Our research will have great impact on the society. It will enable faster wireless communications and data collection, high-speed electronic devices and THz-frequency processors, which will change today’s computation and communication capabilities. It will also tackle some of the most severe societal challenges today – defense and homeland security, renewable efficient energy sources and reducing the energy consumption. Expected impact of this research is also the development of novel methodologies in life sciences, e.g. in vitro to in vivo assays for bio-detection and imaging of tissues and live cells, and improved health-care. Our research will substantially leverage with current efforts in Sweden to bridge the THz gap, which will enable applications in medical imaging, quality control in complex materials such pharmaceutical product, bio-molecular spectroscopy in disease detection, environmental sensing, etc. The research at TheMAC will thus strengthen Sweden's position at the THz scene and help to take a leading role in the ongoing THz race.