Teraphysics

Contact Jerry Pignolet, Power Marketing/Public Relations, at 440-527-0446.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLEVELAND – November 28, 2006 – Teraphysics Corporation has been selected to receive a $200,000 supplemental contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to further development of a terahertz signal source for compact and portable concealed weapons detection systems. The DARPA funds are a Phase Ib contract from its Terahertz Imaging Focal-plane Technology (TIFT) program and are provided to supplement a $750,000 Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract already in place.

In addition, Teraphysics also received $780,000 in contracts this summer from the Army Research Office (ARO) to initiate the development of a higher power terahertz signal source. Under both the DARPA and ARO contracts Teraphysics will develop a type of vacuum electron device known as a backward wave oscillator. The ARO contracts, which utilize a different device design, are Phase I Option and Phase II SBIR contracts.

Citing the unprecedented efficiency and power of Teraphysics’ backward wave oscillator designs, the defense agencies are coordinating funding to expedite the introduction of promising technology into the field, according to Dev Palmer, PhD, program manager for electromagnetics and radio frequency circuit integration projects at the ARO office in Research Park Triangle, North Carolina.

“The Department of Defense has been pursuing terahertz technology for many years,” Palmer said. “To our knowledge, no one else is close to a signal source of this power and efficiency. Teraphysics’ staff sat down and considered how to build our target capability from scratch. They’ve gotten around many limitations of existing approaches.”

Teraphysics President Gerald Mearini, PhD, said the company expects to demonstrate a working prototype of a 0.65 terahertz backward wave oscillator to DARPA by spring. The DARPA supplemental funding will expedite the development of the prototype and enable the investigation of alternate manufacturing engineering considerations.

“An additional $200,000 in DARPA supplemental funds will go toward collaborating with experts in laboratory-grown nano-diamond at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C.,” Mearini said.

Since 2002, Teraphysics has received 12 development contracts worth $4 million from seven government agencies. Four are SBIR Phase II contracts.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Cleveland, Ohio-based Teraphysics Corporation (www.teraphysics.com) develops powerful, efficient and compact devices that operate in millimeter frequencies and the sub-millimeter terahertz band, the only commercially untapped portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum.

Contact Jerry Pignolet, Power Marketing/Public Relations, at 440-527-0446.

CLEVELAND September 22, 2006 Teraphysics Corporation has received a $730,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract from the Army Research Office for the development of innovative technology to enable new capabilities in threat detection systems.

Teraphysics is developing compact and efficient devices that operate in the terahertz band, the only commercially untapped portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum. The company has engineered the worlds first palm-sized signal source operating in this valuable frequency range capable of broad application.

The technology developed in this contract will enable a new class of systems for detection of hidden weapons, explosives and contraband for military and homeland security applications, said Doctor Jim Dayton, Chief Technology Officer for Teraphysics and principal investigator on the contract.

Teraphysics has received 12 development contracts from seven government agencies for total federal funding of $4 million since August 2002. Four are SBIR Phase II contracts.

The Army wants to develop a handheld terahertz source as part of an imaging system that can be deployed to protect sensitive installations, Dayton said. To meet the Armys specifications for a 0.65 terahertz prototype producing at least 100 milliwatts within two years, Dayton and his team will develop backward wave oscillators and traveling wave tubes using the companys proprietary application of nanotechnology for laboratory-grown diamond.

The result, based on state-of-the-art computer modeling techniques, is an electronic oscillator with a breakthrough combination of portability, power, efficiency and tunability. Following completion of the contract, the company intends to commercialize its terahertz signal technology for military and commercial security applications.

Terahertz radiation is non-ionizing and safe for humans. It can identify the unique molecular signatures of substances. It offers significant advantages in medical imaging, homeland security, high-speed wireless networks, space exploration and other applications. For example, it can penetrate clothing to detect hidden items and be used to image skin cancers.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Teraphysics Corporation, a Cleveland, Ohio-based company, develops devices that operate in the terahertz band, the only commercially untapped portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum. The company has engineered the worlds first palm-sized signal source capable of broad application for operation in this coveted frequency range. Teraphysics is part of Genvac Holdings, a privately-held company.

Contact Jerry Pignolet, Power Marketing/Public Relations, at 440-527-0446.

CLEVELAND – September 27, 2006 – Teraphysics Corporation has received a $100,000 Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer contract from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for the development of a miniature 95 gigahertz amplifier for high power radar and communications applications.

In collaboration with RTI-International of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Teraphysics will employ state of the art microfabrication technology in the development of a diamond studded micro helix traveling wave tube (TWT). The device will be designed by Teraphysics adapting technology previously patented by the company. Fabrication experiments to establish the feasibility of the design will be conducted at RTI and the Teraphysics facility in Cleveland.

“This contract is intended not only to develop an amplifier with a wide range of military and commercial applications, but to explore the applicability of fabrication techniques that have not previously been utilized in this technical area,” said Dr. Jim Dayton, chief technology officer for Teraphysics and principal investigator on the contract.

Teraphysics primarily develops compact and efficient devices that operate in or near the terahertz band, the only commercially untapped portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum. The company has engineered the world’s first palm-sized signal source operating in the valuable terahertz frequency range capable of broad commercial and military applications.

The company has received 12 development contracts from seven government agencies for total federal funding of $4 million since August 2002. Four are SBIR Phase II contracts.

The Air Force wants to develop a new class of miniature high power transmitters for operation at 95 gigahertz. At the same time, they seek to apply to vacuum electronics the manufacturing opportunities offered by microfabrication technology initially developed for other areas.

Dayton and the Teraphysics team will develop the novel 95 gigahertz traveling wave tube by combining proven computer aided design techniques, the company’s proprietary application of nanotechnology for laboratory-grown diamond and RTI’s microfabrication expertise.

The typical TWT, used in nearly all microwave and millimeter wave transmitters, has a helical wire coil supported within a metal barrel by ceramic rods. However, conventional fabrication techniques have limited the helical TWT performance range to less than 60 gigahertz. To achieve 95 gigahertz in this device, the ceramic rods will be replaced by diamond studs and the helix will be fabricated using novel lithographic techniques rather than winding a metal wire around a mandrel.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Teraphysics Corporation, a Cleveland, Ohio-based company, develops devices that operate in millimeter frequencies and the sub-millimeter terahertz band, the only commercially untapped portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum. The company has engineered the world’s first palm-sized terahertz signal source capable of broad application for operation in this coveted frequency range. Teraphysics is part of Genvac Holdings, a privately-held company.