Your Partner for Innovative Terahertz Solutions
ACST GmbH (ACST) was founded in April 2006 with the objective of providing the European community with a continuous source of Schottky diodes for mm and sub-mm applications. By founding ACST the first European supplier in this fast-evolving field became available thereby supporting and strengthening the research community.
Being a spin-off company of the Technische Universität Darmstadt (TUD) in Germany, ACST succeeded to over twenty years of technology standards, R&D activity and accumulated experience at TUD in the field of THz technology. This has been used by ACST to build a solid background in fabrication technology of THz Schottky components but also in RF modules and THz systems.
Over the past decade ACST has undertaken over twenty R&D projects supported by ESA, EC (FP7 & H2020), the German Government (BMBF, BMWI) and also leading industrial partners. Accumulated experience and know-how has successfully been implemented into ACST development strategy and supported ACST to become a leading European source for Schottky-based THz technology targeting at ultimate performance at MM/SubMM-Waves.
With a strong technology background ACST has been involved in various space projects and currently provides products and technology support for space missions in Europe and Asia.
The ACST business model relies on two core competencies: Component Fabrication Technology and RF-Engineering. Both these activities are supporting each-other at ACST, which significantly facilitates development of custom-orientated products and services.
Component fabrication technology:
Relying on its outstanding intellectual property and the above well founded technological background ACST has developed a particular, so-called ‘Film-Diode Process’ (FD Process), which is used for fabrication of III-V semiconductor devices and MMICs on a transferred insulating membrane. The FD Process is particularly developed for the highest frequency applications and represents a breakthrough in THz technology when the performance and reproducibility is considered.
Currently ACST confidently keeps European leadership by development of new diode types, involving various III-V semiconductors, MMICs and customer-orientated diode structures.
RF-Engineering:
ACST is defining new performance standards at Module/System level by development of modules and systems based on dedicated components for particular requirements and design solutions.
A particular interest represents ACST high-power multiplier technology. Due to dedicated Schottky components, ACST frequency multipliers and mixers are able to convert unmatched power levels whilst presenting state of the art efficiency.
In-house availability of the entire development chain from microelectronic device fabrication to up/down converter modules and customised systems provides a short development loop. This reduces development time and costs of dedicated solutions for new emerging applications.
ACST dedicated and cost-efficient solutions push THz technology from niche applications into industrial mainstream.
Your Team of ACST