Pulsed Free Space Photonic Vector Network Analyzers for Broadband Operation

With the immense development of terahertz science and technology, the demand for devices and components operating in this range has increased tremendously. The lack of efficient, cost-effective and broadband characterization systems for benchmarking these components is the bottleneck to meeting these demands. Pulsed free space photonic vector network analyzers provide a potential solution to this bottleneck by implementing telecom-wavelength femtosecond laser-driven photoconductors to generate and detect broadband terahertz signals. We discuss two different Photonic Vector Network Analyzer (PVNA) configurations and their excellent performance in characterizing terahertz components in terms of scattering parameters, between 0.2 to 2.5 THz. The PVNA exceeds the frequency coverage of commercially available electronic vector network analyzers and features relatively straightforward calibration and characterization methods.