Research in radio science and technologies, integrated circuits and antennas over MHz-to-THz range of frequencies (simulation, prototyping, measurement).
CIARS is a world-class infrastructure, unique in Canada and one the most advanced in the world, to support innovative research and development activities in radio science, electromagnetic communication and sensing technologies over the widest possible range of frequencies (MHz to THz and beyond). CIARS offers a uniquely integrated environment (“one-stop shopping”) for computational simulation, rapid prototyping, and measurement under one roof. CIARS measurement facility consisting of six lab’s provides widest range of characterization capability including five near-field (sub-GHz to THz) systems, one far-field electromagnetic radiation setup, wide-band EMC/EMI characterization system, 4-port THz PNAX, millimeter-wave/THz signal generator/analyzer, and an array of state-of-the-art THz-Photonics signal generation and characterization (spectrum analysis) setups. CIARS high precision multi-layer rapid prototying lab is equipped with the most advanced micron accuracy laser-based fabrication and bonding instruments. CIARS high performance computational facility includes massively parallel (multi-core and GPU-based) machines as well as all main stream high frequency electromagnetic simulation and CAD tools.
- Sub-GHz to THz near-field/far-field electromagnetic field measurements, antenna radiation measurements, microwave/millimeter-wave/THz imaging, wide-band EMC/RFI measurements and characterization;
- RF/microwave and millimeter-wave/THz circuit characterization, signal generation, and signal analysis;
- THz-photonics signal generation/characterization, spectrum analysis, and system prototyping;
- Vehicular communication system test (road test);
- High-precision multi-layer circuit/antenna prototype fabrication;
- High frequency computational electromagnetic simulation, antenna/front-end-circuit/integrated system design/simulation/optimization including passive/active antenna system (element/array) design/fabrication/test, radio system/network design, simulation, and optimization;
- Radar system design/analysis/test, radio-network (communication and sensing) simulation and optimization
- Automotive
- Information and communication technologies and media
Specialized labs and equipment
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Specialized lab |
Equipment |
Function |
|---|---|---|
|
Electromagnetic Radiation Lab (ERL) |
|
CIARS Electromagnetic Radiation Lab (ERL) is a multi-purpose electromagnetic field measurement facility for the widest-possible range of RF measurement frequency band. It covers from as low as 30 MHz, up to 1.1 THz. |
|
RF/Microwave, Millimeter and Sub-Millimeter-Wave System Lab: |
Agilent 4-port PNAX network analyzer (up to 50GHz) Agilent PSG vector signal generator (up to 500GHz) Agilent PSA-PXA spectrum/signal analyzer (up to 500GHz) Agilent noise figure analyzer (up to 44GHz) On-chip wafer probing (10MHz to 500GHz) |
4-port PNAX-based network analysis, PSA spectrum/signal analysis, programmable signal |
|
Rapid Prototyping Lab (RPL): |
|
Laser-based planar circuit/antenna fabrication, high-precision circuit printing on flexible substrate, multi-layer circuit and planar antenna array |
|
THz-Photonics Lab: |
THz time-domain spectroscopy, Sensing, and imaging setup Continuous-Wave (CW) THz spectroscopy, sensing, and imaging setup Photomixing system Quasi-optical backward-wave oscilator Infrared pump-probe system Optical wavemeter Golay cell detector Pyroelectric detector DSP digital lock-in amplifier Ocean Optics High Resolution Optical Spectrometer Biological sample preparation and storage facilities |
Frequency range: GHz to THz |
|
Vehicular Mobile Radio Network Lab and Outdoor Test Road Track: |
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Simulation and testing of electronic toll plaza vehicle tracking/identification using advanced intelligent antenna/radio system |
|
High Performance Computational Facility: |
|
Advanced multi-core parallel computing platform, all mainstream software, packages, in-house computational EM software tools |
Private and public sector research partners
- Blackberry
- C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.
- COM Dev International Ltd.
- Bombardier
- The Kapsch Group
Additional information
|
Title |
URL |
|---|---|
| New University of Waterloo facility aims to boost next-gen wireless technology | |
| Next Generation Wireless Communications Facility Opens | |
| New wireless laboratory will usher in a new generation of technologies | |
| University of Waterloo to explore fringes of electromagnetic spectrum with new wireless facility |