SOLITONIC

Institute of Robust Power Semiconductor Systems

Solitonic project targets up to 200 Gbit/s THz transmitter for next generation THz communications by means of combining the best features of photonic and electronic approaches.

SOLITONIC is a common research project of the ILH from the University of Stuttgart and the IEMN from the University of Lille, which investigates a novel co-integration of electronic and photonic components for Terahertz-communication.

Data traffic over wireless networks keeps following an exponential growth rate. The COVID pandemic has accelerated this growth in regard to the information exchange in business and private applications. Because of that growth, there is already research conducted on wireless communication systems for the sixth generation of cellular systems (6G) in order to bring Europe in a leading role.

The SOLITONIC project is based on a French-German collaboration of the IEMN from the University of Lille and the ILH from the University of Stuttgart and aims for a 200 Gbit/s Terahertz transmitter. This shall be enabled by a combination of the best features of the photonic and electronic technologies. The high data rate will be made possible by a so-called uni-traveling-carrier photodiode (UTC-PD) from the French partner, whereas the high linear output power of the semiconductor based 300 GHz amplifier will be enabled by the electronic technology from Germany.

The combined approach with the superior properties from both worlds tries to increase the usable dynamic range of Terahertz-transmitter by means of analog pre-distortion concepts. In scope of the SOLITONIC project, Terahertz-link-demonstrations are planned.

The ILH uses for the development of the amplifier the 35 nm InGaAs mHEMT process of the Fraunhofer IAF.

Overview of the SOLITONIC transmitter concept
This image shows Thomas Ufschlag

Thomas Ufschlag

M.Sc.

Research Assistant

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