Teraphysics

Gerald T. Mearini, Ph.D.

President and Founder of Teraphysics Corporation

Dr. Mearini received a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University in 1986 and a Master of Science in 1988 from Case Western Reserve University. In 1991 Dr. Mearini received a PhD. in experimental physics from Case Western Reserve University specializing in thin film deposition, mechanical properties of thin films and applied surface physics under Professor R.W. Hoffman.

From 1991 - 95, Mearini pioneered very high secondary electron emission and field emission from chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond films for space electronic applications as a National Research Council fellow in the Space Communications Division of NASA Lewis Research Center. This led to national recognition in the "diamond" community and the founding of General Vacuum in 1994 (now GENVAC Aerospace) and ultimately Teraphysics Corporation in 2004.

At GENVAC, Dr. Mearini developed a selective diamond growth process to produce critically enabling CVD diamond components for next generation vacuum electronic devices. He also invented a room temperature process to deposit Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO) on plastic substrates, which, through a partnership with The Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University, has led to some of the world's first plastic-based LCDs. Dr. Mearini received an EDI Innovation Award in 1998 for the development and commercialization of the room temperature ITO from The Cleveland Growth Association. The ITO products enabled General Vacuum’s revenues to exceed $1 million for the first time that year.  Early in 2000, Mearini formed a partnership with Louis Fisi, a successful Cleveland businessman with extensive experience with public financial markets.  The Mearini-Fisi partnership enabled the transformation of GENVAC from a “job shop” to a full-fledged thin film manufacturing entity.  By the end of 2001 GENVAC had approximately 40 employees and revenues exceeded $3.5 million.

In 2001 Dr. Mearini recruited Dr. James Dayton, and internationally renowned expert in vacuum electronic amplifier development, to join GENVAC as a partner with the objective that Dayton would use his then 30+ years of vacuum electronics experience to develop a diamond-based miniature vacuum electronics product line.  Since 2002 Dayton’s contributions are the main product thrust of the company and ultimately led to formation of Teraphysics Corporation.

During 2002-03 Dr. Mearini focused the ion-assisted electron beam evaporation capability of GENVAC on developing a military qualified infrared optical filter product line, which has developed into that company’s primary revenue source. In 2004 Mearini and his two partners created Teraphysics Corporation by spinning out GENVAC’s CVD diamond replication technology.  Teraphysics is focused on development and manufacturing of a family of diamond-based signal sources and amplifiers operating in the terahertz frequency band.  Dr. Mearini is currently focused on identifying high-value THz applications, prototype systems development and relationship building necessary to position the company to commercialize a viable THz based product line.

Dr. Mearini has numerous publications and 13 patents in the areas of diamond-based electron beam devices, electron emission from diamond, CVD diamond growth processes and single and multilayered thin film properties and deposition techniques.   Dr. Mearini is also an adjunct Professor in the Physics Department at Case Western Reserve University and serves as advisor to students in the Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Program and on the Engineering Advisory Board for the recently created Engineering Physics Degree Program, both at Case Western Reserve University.