Research

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

THz System Engineering

Improving the optics of THz systems for better reliability.

Terahertz Spectroscopy of Liquids

Experimental system development for measuring the optical characteristics of liquids in the THz band.

Terahertz Imaging of Cells

Imaging cultured cells and structures with THz radiation.

Model Development for RF Communications

Scale models for studying RF propagation.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal Publications

S. P Mickan, A. Menikh, H. Liu, C. A. Mannella, D. Abbott, J. Munch and X-C Zhang, " T-ray-based sensing of thin film lipid-protein interactions, " Physics in Medicine & Biology (submitted).

S. Mickan, K.-S. Lee, T.-M. Lu, J. Munch, X.-C. Zhang & D. Abbott, "Double modulated differential THz-TDS for thin film dielectric characterization," Microelectronics Journal (submitted).

B. Ferguson, S. Mickan, S. Hubbard, D. Pavlidis and D. Abbott, "Towards a gallium nitride photoconductive antenna," Microelectronics (Elsevier), 2002, (submitted).

S. Mickan, D. Abbott, J. Munch, X.-C. Zhang & T. van Doorn, "Noise reduction in terahertz thin film measurements using a double modulated differential technique," Fluctuation and Noise Letters (submitted).

S. Mickan, D. Abbott, J. Munch, X.-C. Zhang & T. van Doorn, "Analysis of system trade-offs for terahertz imaging," Microelectronics Journal 31 (7) July (2000) 503-514.

M. L. Perkins, S. J. Hill, S. P. Mickan, D. Abbott, J. Munch & T. van Doorn, "Review of tradeoffs for quenched avalanche photodiode sensors for imaging turbid media," Microelectronics Journal 31 (7) July (2000) 605-610.

Refereed Conferences

S.P. Mickan, J.S. Dordick, J. Munch, D. Abbott and X-C Zhang, "Pulsed THz protein spectroscopy in organic solvents," Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO) Digest , Long Beach, CA, USA, 19-24 May 2002, (accepted).

B. Ferguson, S. Mickan, S. Hubbard, D. Pavlidis and D. Abbott, "Investigation of gallium nitride T-ray transmission characteristics," in Electronics and Structures for MEMS II, Neil W. Bergmann, Editor, Proc. SPIE Vol. 4591, pp. 210-220 (13-15 December 2001).

S. Mickan, K.-S. Lee, T.-M. Lu, J. Munch, X.-C. Zhang & D. Abbott, "Thin film characterization using terahertz differential time-domain spectroscopy and double modulation," in Electronics and Structures for MEMS II, Neil W. Bergmann, Editor, Proc. SPIE Vol. 4591, pp. 197-209 (13-15 December 2001).

S. Mickan, D. Abbott, J. Munch & X.-C. Zhang, "Chemical sensing in the submillimeter wave regime," in Smart Structures and Devices , Dinesh K. Sood, Editor, Proc. SPIE Vol. 4235, pp. 434-442 (13-15 December 2000).

S. J. Hill, M. L. Perkins, S. P. Mickan, D. Abbott, J. Munch and T. van Doorn, " Trade-offs for quenched avalanche photodiode (QAPD) sensors for imaging turbid media, " in Electronics and Structures for MEMS , Proc. SPIE Vol. 3891, Neil W. Bergmann, Editor, pp. 218-225 (27-29 October 1999).

S. P. Mickan, D. Abbott, J. Munch, X.-C. Zhang and T. van Doorn, " Analysis of system trade-offs for terahertz imaging, " in Electronics and Structures for MEMS , Proc. SPIE Vol. 3891, Neil W. Bergmann, Editor, pp. 226-237 (27-29 October 1999).

Book Chapters

S. Mickan and X.-C. Zhang, " Optoelectronics for Terahertz Wave Sensing and Imaging, " in D. Woolard, M. S. Shur & W. Leorop (eds) â€˜Sensing Science and Electronic Technology at THz Frequenciesâ€™ Â (submitted).

Invited Talks

S. Mickan, K.-S. Lee, T.-M. Lu, J. S. Dordick, J. Munch, D. Abbott & X.-C. Zhang, "Highly sensitive terahertz spectroscopy of thin protein films for biochip applications," First International Conference on Biomedical Imaging and Sensing Applications of THz Technology, Leeds, United Kingdom, 29 Nov - 1 Dec 2001.

Patents

S. Mickan, A. Menikh & X.-C. Zhang, " A terahertz time-domain biosensor " (disclosure submitted), Feb 2002.

S. Mickan & D. Abbott, "A T-ray diagnostic apparatus," Australian Patent Office, No.PR2139, 15th Dec 2000.

TERAHERTZ

My work has centred around THz imaging and spectroscopy systems in the mould of X.-C. Zhang's research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Since 1999 I have been working on the first Australian THz imaging project at Adelaide University, which I designed and implemented.

The 'hub' for links to THz groups is maintained by Prof. Dan Mittleman at Rice University .

ACADEMIC SUPERVISORS

Derek Abbott , School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering , The University of Adelaide .

Jesper Munch , Department of Physics and Mathematical Physics , The University of Adelaide .

Xi-Cheng Zhang , Center for Terahertz Research , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute .

Contact Details:

Office: N234

Building: Engineering North

T: +61 8 8303 4115

F: +61 8 8303-4360

samuel.mickan@adelaide.edu.au