Terahertz generation by optically injected semiconductor laser for radar and communication applications

A frequency-tunable terahertz (THz) wave generation scheme based on an optically injected semiconductor laser is proposed for radar and communication applications. The THz generator has a very simple structure, and it is demonstrated to have a broad tuning range of 0.1–3.257 THz, which is realised by adjusting the detuning frequency and injection strength of the semiconductor laser. Feasibility of the proposed THz generator is verified by a THz wireless communication experiment, in which error-free transmission of 150 Mbit/s on–off keying pseudorandom bit sequence signals with a 115-GHz carrier is achieved over a 1-meter free-space link.