Welcome to Terahertz, the web site of
QMC Instruments Ltd & Thomas Keating Ltd

• QMC Instruments Ltd develops instrumentation for the detection and processing of electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths ranging from microwaves to the near infrared. Our products include a long-established range of cryogenic detectors and associated components and instruments. These are used in diverse applications such as atmospheric remote sensing, astronomy, semiconductor materials characterisation, hot plasma fusion diagnostics and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.

One of the 66 Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) telescopes in Chajnantor in the Chilean Andes; we are currently supplying windows and cooled polarisers for this project.

• Thomas Keating - Toolmaking has a 60 year history of making high precision tooling (press tools, gauges and injection moulds). We aim to give a complete tool-making service, from initial design to tool tryout and maintenance support, combining traditional skills with modern machining techniques and management procedures. The introduction of CNC Jig Grinding has significantly widened our scope. We produce precision components in areas such as medicine, aerospace, racing cars, and packaging.

CNC Jig Grinding of racing car parts at TK Toolmaking.

• Thomas Keating - Instruments draws on tool-making skills to design and develop quasi-optical Terahertz systems and subsystems. We have growing activity in High Field Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and remote sensing instrumentation, including space-borne projects. These newer areas compliment our more established applications like Plasma Fusion diagnostics and material characterisation. Our space-borne work has included the High Frequency Instrument (HFI) feeds for the Planck space telescope mission launched in May 2009, and the multiplexer on the 94 GHz pulsed cloud radar on the EarthCARE climate monitoring satellite.

The 94 GHz HiPER Pulsed ESR Spectrometer at St. Andrews University in Scotland, built by TK Instruments.