The physics behind Lynkeas.
Developed at the Walter Schottky Institut in Garching, at the intersection of optics and semiconductor technology. Hover over each component below to see its role in THz generation.
Mid-IR pump sources
Two mid-IR lasers at frequencies f₁ and f₂ are combined and fed into the metasurface. Via difference-frequency generation, THz radiation emerges at exactly |f₁ − f₂|.
Precise control of the pump lasers directly defines the THz output. This is the foundation for tunable, selective spectroscopy.
Optical hardware
Apart from the proprietary metasurface, the system uses commercial off-the-shelf optics: lenses, parabolic mirrors, and filters.
The metasurface
Our proprietary metasurface consists of nanometer-thin semiconductor layers forming a multi-quantum well (MQW). The nonlinear interaction of incoming mid-IR light generates THz inside this MQW. Nanoscale resonators patterned into the surface boost both pump coupling and THz emission efficiency.
THz emission
THz frequency, linewidth, and power inherit directly from the mid-IR pump lasers. Because laser technology is mature, we deliver CW or pulsed emission, narrow linewidth, full tunability, and high output, all tailored per application.
Independently validated at the University of Leeds.
Prototype #3 was validated in December 2025. The measurements confirmed <5 MHz spectral resolution and the identification of 10+ target vapor gases at room temperature.
University of Leeds
Chemical ID of vapor gases demonstrated on a portable 30×30 cm bench top system at room temperature, achieving a 100 ppm sensitivity baseline.
Three prototypes built.
Prototypes #1 and #3 are hosted at the Walter Schottky Institute at TU Munich, the fabrication home of our patented metasurface. Prototype #3 is a portable 30×30 cm bench-top system that operates at room temperature.