The EMCE Institute is one of the leading research institutions in the field of high-frequency and THz technology and integrated circuits. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the institute combines basic research with innovative applications—ranging from the theory of electromagnetic fields to the development of cutting-edge technologies for communications, sensor technology, and optoelectronics. Its scientific work focuses on four key areas: microwave technology for information and communication technologies; analog, mixed-signal, and optoelectronic circuits; terahertz (THz) sources, detectors, and systems; and micro- and nano-semiconductor technology for quantum electronic structures.

The institute’s work is divided into three specialized research groups:

  • Microwave Technology (Head: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Holger Arthaber)
    Focus on high-frequency systems and their integration into modern communications infrastructures.
  • Circuit Technology (Head: Univ. Prof. Dr. Horst Zimmermann)
    Development of innovative circuit concepts for analog, mixed-signal, and optoelectronic applications.
  • THz Electronics (Head: Univ.Prof. Michael Feiginov)
    Research into THz sources, detectors, and systems, particularly those based on quantum semiconductor structures.

Research

Microwave Electronics

The Microwave Engineering Group covers a broad spectrum ranging from basic research to applied research. The foundation for this is the microwave laboratory, where both on-wafer and full-system measurements up to 110 GHz are possible, supplemented by state-of-the-art simulators for circuits, systems, and electromagnetic fields. The group’s expertise not only covers traditional microwave technology but also includes the design of hardware-oriented microwave systems, FPGA-based real-time signal processing, and signal processing algorithms.

A key focus is on high-frequency communication applications. The group is working on efficient, linear, and robust transceivers: on the transmit side, specifically on switched-mode power amplifiers (SMPAs); on the receive side, on interference-robust architectures. A significant part of the work involves the optimized design of complete systems, as demonstrated by the highly linear aviation radio transceiver designed for the L-Band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) and built as a hardware demonstrator. On the fundamental research side, the focus is on the nonlinear characterization and modeling of microwave components using polyharmonic distortion (PHD) approaches, supported by equipment for nonlinear vector network analysis (up to 67 GHz), large-signal measurements, and harmonic load pull.

In addition to many years of work on UHF RFID (reader design, tag localization), antenna design—including the associated measurement techniques—is becoming increasingly important. In this area, the group is currently extending its mathematical methods for antenna measurement to large phase-controlled antenna arrays. The goal is to efficiently simulate these arrays, optimize the feed networks, develop optimal routing strategies, and characterize nonlinear interactions in active arrays, which directly ties in with PHD-based component modeling.

Test-Setup

© TU Wien

THz Electronics

The THz Electronics Research Group was founded in 2016. The group develops THz sources, detectors, and systems. The main focus is on the study of resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) and THz RTD oscillators, which are among the highest-frequency active electronic components in existence. They operate at frequencies up to just under 2 THz. The group recently demonstrated RTD oscillators with a record output power of 2 µW at 1.75 THz. In addition, the group recently succeeded in realizing extremely compact RTD oscillators with so-called patch antennas at frequencies up to 1.1 THz. The group is one of only two research groups worldwide that have succeeded in demonstrating RTD oscillators at frequencies above 1 THz.

In addition to experimental work involving sophisticated THz measurement techniques as well as nano- and micro-semiconductor technology, the group also makes significant contributions to the theory of quantum tunneling structures, ultrafast electron transport phenomena, and dynamic and nonlinear effects in RTDs.

Furthermore, the group investigates methods for stabilizing and controlling RTD oscillators. This work aims to enable the use of THz RTD oscillators in wireless communications and radar technology and to pave the way for a wide range of practical THz applications.

SEM

© TU Wien

Integrated Circuits

The Circuit Design Research Group was founded in 2000 with the appointment of Prof. Zimmermann and began with the EU project INSPIRED, which focused on the integration of a PIN photodiode and new circuit concepts for optical sensors. The results of this project led to the founding of the startup A3PICs in 2005. Another area of focus was analog ICs in several FFG projects with Infineon, extending to analog ICs in nanometer CMOS. The scope of application for the PIN photodiode technology developed with XFAB was expanded to include avalanche photodiodes and, subsequently, single-photon avalanche diodes. Highlights included free-space optical transmission and electro-photonic integration. Three EU projects (HELIOS, IRIS, and EPIQUS) were carried out in this area. With EPIQUS, a project focused on a quantum simulator, the field of photonic quantum applications was entered. In addition, basic research FWF projects on 3D sensor ICs and single-photon detection were conducted. In the groundbreaking FWF project USPAR, PIN photodiode receiver ICs were used to achieve the same sensitivity as SPAD receivers. Current work and project planning focus on applying the USPAR method to the detection of individual photons.

Teaching

As part of the bachelor’s program, the institute has made a significant contribution to courses in the core disciplines of electrodynamics and circuit design. Currently, the institute focuses on advanced courses in the fields of THz technology and circuit design, as well as on supervising bachelor’s theses.
 In the master’s program, students pursue targeted specialization through a series of lectures on high-frequency and circuit engineering, along with accompanying lab exercises. The program focuses on the forward-looking fields of telecommunications, microelectronics, and high-frequency and THz engineering. This focus enables graduates to distinguish themselves in dynamic and technologically demanding fields. The institute places great emphasis not only on imparting theoretical knowledge but also on reinforcing the material through an experimental and practice-oriented approach. This is particularly evident in the courses on high-frequency and THz technology in the master’s program.

Contributors

Holger Arthaber received his Dr.-techn. degree and his habilitation in high-frequency and information technology from the Vienna University of Technology in 2004 and 2017, respectively. He is currently an associate professor. He is the (co-)author of more than 120 peer-reviewed publications. His research interests include the characterization of microwave materials, indoor localization, antenna design and measurement, EMC measurements, software-defined radio devices, and the design of RF systems. Dr. Arthaber is a member of the Technical Program Committee of the International Workshop on Integrated Nonlinear Microwave and Millimeter-wave Circuits and a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering. He has also served as a guest editor for various IEEE and MDPI journals. He is an IEEE Senior Member.


Portrait of Dr. Horst Zimmermann

© TU Wien

Dr. Horst Zimmermann earned his diploma in physics from the University of Bayreuth in 1984 and his Dr.-Ing. degree from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in 1991 in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS-B). He then served as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at Duke University (USA) until 1992, conducting research on diffusion in Si, GaAs, and InP. In 1993, he moved to the University of Kiel, where he taught optoelectronics and conducted research in the field of optoelectronic integration. Since 2000, he has been a professor of electronic circuit engineering at the Vienna University of Technology. His research focuses on analog and nanometric CMOS circuits, optoelectronically integrated CMOS/BiCMOS circuits, optical wireless communication, single-photon detection, and electro-photonic integration. He is the author of several textbooks and over 600 publications. He has been a Senior Member of the IEEE since 2002 and served as guest editor of an IEEE special issue on optical detectors in 2014.


Portrait of Michael Feiginov

© TU Wien

Michael Feiginov received his M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and Physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Russia) in 1994 and his Ph.D. in the physics of semiconductors and dielectrics from the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1999. From 1994 to 2000, he worked there as a junior scientist, scientist, and senior scientist. In 2001, he worked as a research assistant at Chemnitz University of Technology. From 2002 to 2013, he was a senior researcher at Darmstadt University of Technology. From 2013 to 2014, he was a visiting researcher at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan). From 2014 to 2016, he was Scientific Manager at the Frontier Research Center of Canon Inc. in Tokyo. Since 2016, he has been a professor at the Vienna University of Technology. His research areas include THz electronics and photonics.