[NE Coffee Chat] The Terra: "Dramatically Improving Quality Through Terahertz-Wave Measurement"

Interview with Seo Jeongpil, CEO of The Terra
SK hynix in-house venture developing semiconductor component inspection equipment using terahertz waves

Even particles smaller than a speck of dust can affect production processes for precision electronic components. Defects can occur no matter how rigorously the process is managed. If the characteristics or thickness of a component’s surface can be measured, such defects can be reduced and quality controlled. But accurately measuring the surface properties of components has not been easy. The Terra is a startup aiming to solve this problem using terahertz waves. The Terra, an in-house venture at SK hynix, has set a goal of advancing this technology and developing measurement equipment for high-bandwidth memory (HBM).

On October 28, The Terra CEO Seo Jeongpil said, "Terahertz waves have wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than radio waves. Because they penetrate materials better than visible light, they enable more precise measurement." Terahertz waves generally refer to electromagnetic waves that oscillate 1 trillion (tera) times per second. Their frequency falls between microwaves, which oscillate from 1 billion to 300 billion times per second, and infrared waves, which have long wavelengths and can travel through air easily. Combining the penetrative properties of electromagnetic waves with the straight-line propagation of light waves, terahertz waves can pass through a wide range of materials, except those with high conductivity, such as metals.

Seo Jeongpil, CEO of The Terra, explains terahertz waves.

Seo decided to pursue a startup using terahertz waves to solve a problem he encountered while working at SK hynix. His job was to find "particles," or tiny dust particles that cause problems, in the production process. "The same component repeatedly turned out to be defective, and the problem arose because we couldn't measure it," Seo said. He believed that accurately measuring component surfaces could solve the problem. In the process, he learned about the potential of technology using terahertz waves. "I found and investigated a specialized application of terahertz waves in the automotive sector," he said. "I concluded that the technology could be used to measure the surface properties of components precisely."

Selected as an SK hynix in-house venture, The Terra has had its business potential validated and is developing equipment to measure components using terahertz waves. The project is now in its final stages, and the company plans to complete a prototype by the end of 2026. After testing and refinement, it plans to commercialize the product around March or April 2027. Once launched, the equipment could be used to inspect semiconductor components. "Precision manufacturing processes for electronic products, including semiconductors, require many components. Introducing equipment that uses terahertz waves gives manufacturers 'eyes for measurement' and reduces the trial and error involved in achieving the desired performance," Seo said.

The Terra's strategy is to gain an early foothold in the market by highlighting that its terahertz-wave equipment enables nondestructive measurement and quality control that were previously impossible. Its first target market is semiconductor component manufacturers. Initially, the company plans to focus on analysis services rather than equipment sales. While the technology will first be applied to semiconductor component inspections, it has room to expand to other industries, including automotive, aerospace and shipbuilding. Seo has the automotive industry in mind as the second area after semiconductor components.

The Terra's ultimate goal is tied to SK hynix's core business. "For now, we're building up our core technology and earning trust," Seo said. "Our goal is to use this foundation to develop measurement equipment for HBM by 2030."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.