About us
The Kollberg laboratory was formed in the spring of 2015 and is linked to undergraduate education at Chalmers, educating and training new users continuously in measurement technology.
It is a unique laboratory for the development of technology in the hard to reach terahertz frequency range, for example frequencies of the order of a trillion cycles per second as well as for advanced communication and sensing systems in the microwave range. The infrastructure enables research with applications in space exploration, future wireless communications and radar sensors, for example in autonomous vehicles.
- supports measurements from dc to THz frequencies
- is an open Chalmers research infrastructure
- is hosted by the Microtechnology and Nanoscience department
Vision
The vision is to become one of the three most complete and advanced measurement laboratories for high frequencies, open to users from all around the world. A new generation of instruments allows measurements at frequencies up to and above one terahertz. The equipment is adapted to suit multiple research areas: materials, components, circuits, systems, and antennas for high frequencies.
Mission and implementation
The aim of the Kollberg Laboratory is to extend the use of microwave technology, millimetre wave technology and terahertz technology. With unique instrumentations and competence, the Kollberg Laboratory attracts a wide range of users.
The Kollberg Laboratory's mission is to:
- constitute an internationally attractive node for research from the microwave to the terahertz frequency range
- create an open meeting place for collaboration between users from academia, institutes and industry
- enable high quality and impact in research, teaching and collaboration
- work for excellence in measurement methodology and measuring skills
- actively search and welcome new ideas with potential to lead to an innovative and groundbreaking development of the research area
The implementation consists of improving measurement performance, speed and quality by building setups dedicated to common measurement needs.
History
During Professor Kollberg's active days, a large number of unique electronic components were developed. For example, Masers, SIS diodes, Schottky diodes, HEB diodes, HBV diodes, and transistors, with the purpose of building sensitive remote sensing receivers, especially radio astronomy. This work made the foundation for a high-frequency measurement laboratory for the purpose of characterizing components, circuits and systems in the 70's.
In 2014, Chalmers was granted SEK 39 million from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW). This was for "A National Laboratory in Terahertz Characterization" to build up measuring capacity in the terahertz area (0.1 - 10 THz).
Chalmers then decided to create an open research infrastructure based on previous resources and the new resources made possible by the KAW grant.
In June 2016, the infrastructure adopted the name "Kollberg Laboratory" (Kollberglaboratoriet in Swedish) to honor Erik L. Kollberg1, former Chalmers professor in millimetre technology.
1. Siegel, P. (2014). Terahertz pioneer: Erik L. Kollberg “Instrument maker to the stars”. IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology 4(5), 538 - 544.
Instrumentation
The Kollberg laboratory includes instrumentation for electrical characterisation from dc up to beyond 5 THz. Example of equipment is: Fourier-Transform Spectrometers (FTS), Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs) beyond 1.5 THz (with extenders), synthesizers, spectrum analyzers, Large-signal Network Analyzer (LSNA), passive and active load pull, nonlinear VNA, advanced dc characterization set ups for high power and low noise devices, cryogenic coolers, and much more. Beside characterization set-ups, the laboratory includes several probe-stations for on-wafer probing beyond 1 THz.
All equipment is listed on the booking page.