GaAs光电导天线辐射太赫兹波功率的计算

在Larmor公式的基础上建立了适合计算光电导天线辐射太赫兹波功率的数学模型,利用此数学模型通过蒙特卡罗方法分别计算了不同实验条件下GaAs光电导天线辐射太赫兹电磁波功率.计算结果表明,增加光电导天线的偏置电场或触发光能量,都能够提高天线辐射太赫兹波功率,大孔径光电导天线能够承载更多的光生载流子,因而可以产生比小孔径光电导天线功率更高的太赫兹波. 关键词： 光电导天线 Larmor公式 太赫兹波功率     

Mapping an on-chip terahertz antenna by a scanning near-field probe and a fixed field-effect transistor

In the terahertz(THz) regime,the active region for a solid-state detector usually needs to be implemented accurately in the near-field region of an on-chip antenna.Mapping of the near-field strength could allow for rapid verification and optimization of new antenna/detector designs.Here,we report a proof-of-concept experiment in which the field mapping is realized by a scanning metallic probe and a fixed AlGaN/GaN field-effect transistor.Experiment results agree well with the electromagnetic-wave simulations.The results also suggest a field-effect THz detector combined with a probe tip could serve as a high sensitivity THz near-field sensor.     

Near-field propagation of terahertz pulses from a large-aperture antenna

The near-field propagation behavior of terahertz (THz) pulses generated by a planar large-aperture photoconducting THz transmitter has been characterized. A simulation model based on Huygens-Fresnel diffraction theory has been developed that permits accurate prediction of the spatiotemporal profiles of the THz beam everywhere and gives excellent agreement with experimental measurements. Two key conclusions emerge from this research, namely, the realization that for practical laboratory setups one is always working in the near-field regime and that the proper temporal shape of the THz field at the antenna is one that rises rapidly but decays slowly.     

基于LT-GaAs外延片的THz片上系统

太赫兹（THz）波在物质检测方面发挥着巨大的作用,是一种非常有潜力的生化传感工具。但是传统的太赫兹时域光谱系统（TDS）结构复杂,系统的集成度低,占用空间较大。所以,如何对THz波进行有效引导、实现集成化传输并得到高质量光谱就成为太赫兹光谱系统的研究热点。太赫兹片上系统是将THz的产生、传输以及探测都集成到同一芯片上,然后通过相干探测的方法获得THz时域光谱。它可以实现对多种样品的检测,尤其在对难于取样的微量样品探测方面具有广泛的应用价值。它无需光路准直,操作简便,成品率高。两个研究工作都是基于低温砷化镓(LT-GaAs)外延片开展的。首先将一根直径为200 μm的铜线固定在LT-GaAs外延片的上方,通过真空蒸镀的方法制备出天线电极,同时得到天线间隙,研制出基于LT-GaAs外延片的THz天线。利用波长为800 nm的飞秒激光对其进行测试,得到了质量较高的THz信号,验证了天线的实用性。然后在另一外延片上利用光刻微加工工艺制作出传输线和微电极,得到了集成的THz片上系统。使用波长为1 550 nm的飞秒激光分别激发片上系统的太赫兹产生天线和探测天线,天线产生的太赫兹波在传输线上传播,在探测端同样得到了质量较高的THz时域信号,证实了THz片上系统的可行性。该方法省去了腐蚀牺牲层以及LT-GaAs薄膜的转移、键合等步骤,极大地提高了片上系统的成品率,避免了薄膜转移过程中易破碎及腐蚀液存在毒性的问题。最后,研究了外加电压对从片上系统中获得的THz波性能的影响,结果为电压越高,THz波的信号强度越强;另外,通过在传输线上方垂直放置铜箔的方法验证了THz波沿着传输线传播的事实。该研究中采用的基于LT-GaAs外延片的片上系统的制备方法简单,制作周期短,制作过程安全,应用领域广泛,这为将来与微流控芯片相结合实现对液体样品的探测打下了基础。     

Terahertz-radiation-enhanced broadband terahertz generation from large aperture photoconductive antenna

A technique of enhancing and broadening terahertz (THz) wave radiation from large aperture photoconductive (PC) antenna is presented in this paper. In this technique, the PC antenna is excited by both the optical and previously generated THz pulses by a laser-induced air plasma created in front of PC antenna and an enhanced and broadened THz wave signal is obtained. The theoretical and experimental investigation shows that the superposition is the main mechanism for this enhancement. The technique shown in this paper can be very useful for THz imaging and spectroscopy.     

光电导天线太赫兹辐射峰值调控研究

针对微结构光电导天线与飞秒激光之间相互作用效应以及辐射太赫兹波调控问题进行了研究。采用德鲁德-洛伦兹理论模型获得微结构光电导天线辐射光电流密度,通过时域有限差分把光电流密度迭代在激励网格上,结合麦克斯韦方程求解时变电磁场,并通过传输线格林函数获得多层介质近场到远场的辐射太赫兹波,建立了辐射光电流与辐射阻抗、电磁共振模式之间的关系模型,模拟仿真分析了微结构S型光电导天线太赫兹波辐射调控机理。研究结果表明:微结构改变了天线等效模型的辐射阻抗;同时得知耦合系数不为零时存在耦合作用,且随着耦合系数增大共振频率峰值发生辐射增强和位移;并通过设计S型光电导天线获得辐射峰值频率调整范围为0.50~0.80 THz之间,对比工形天线辐射峰值频率由原来的0.40 T移动到0.76 T,频率调整度75%,峰值辐射效率约提高70%。该研究工作为后续高功率光导天线太赫兹波辐射的共振中心频点以及结构设计奠定重要基础。     

NOVEL TERAHERTZ PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ANTENNAS

The photoconductive (PC) antenna is a key device for the recent terahertz (THz) photonics based on laser-pumped generation and detection of THz radiation. In this paper we report on two new types of PC antennas: the Schottky PC antenna and the multi-contacts PC antenna. The former one is able to detect THz radiation intensity without the time-delay scan and useful for applications where spectroscopic information is not important, such as the THz intensity imaging. The latter one is useful for the polarization sensitive THz spectroscopy, such as the THz ellipsometry. The characteristic features of these new types of PC antennas are studied by using a THz time-domain spectroscopy system.     

Analytical framework of small-gap photoconductive dipole antenna using equivalent circuit model

A compact planar antenna sources with on-chip fabrication and high directivity in order to achieve large depth-of-field for better image resolution is the prospective demand for THz imaging application. Therefore, the small-gap photoconductive dipole antennas have been explored to fulfil such applications demand. However, there are certain modalities for improving the photoconductive dipole antenna performance which need to identify to accomplish high THz average radiated power and improved total efficiency. The unit-cell small-gap photoconductive dipole antenna radiation power enhancement methods need to optimize the design parameters with photoconductive material selection from theoretical simulation. Further, the potential improvement of coupling efficiency of THz wave with air as well as femto-second laser incident efficiency is also important parameters to enhance the radiation power of small-gap photoconductive dipole antenna. In this paper, we have presented an analytical procedure employing explicit mathematical expression leading to the physical behaviour of small-gap photoconductive dipole antenna. The effects of biased lines on the antenna performance parameters are discussed with the help of proposed equivalent circuit model. We have explored the effect of gap-size on the THz radiated power and on total radiation efficiency from the proposed photoconductive dipole antennas.     

Efficacy of proposed 2DEG-based photoconductive antenna using magnetic bias-controlled carrier transport

An externally applied magnetic field was used to induce increased photocarrier transport along the high mobility channel in GaAs/AlGaAs modulation-doped heterostructures (MDH). The terahertz (THz) emission from GaAs/AlGaAs MDH increases with increasing magnetic field, applied parallel to the heterojunction. The THz emission enhancement factors due to the magnetic field in MDH are higher than in undoped GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction and in bulk SI-GaAs. This demonstrates that properly utilizing the high-mobility channel for carrier transport promises to be a viable design consideration for efficient THz photoconductive antenna (PCA) devices. Moreover, it was observed that for MDH, as well as for an undoped GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction, the enhancement for one magnetic field direction is greater than the enhancement for the opposite direction. This is in contrast to the symmetric enhancement with magnetic field direction observed in a bulk SI-GaAs. An analysis of photocarrier trajectories under an external magnetic field supports the explanation that the enhancement asymmetry with magnetic field direction in MDH is due to the cycloid motion of electrons as affected by the GaAs/AlGaAs interface.     

Excitation-density-dependent generation of broadband terahertz radiation in an asymmetrically excited photoconductive antenna

The generation of terahertz (THz) transients in photoconductive emitters has been studied by varying the spatial extent and density of the optically excited photocarriers in asymmetrically excited, biased low-temperature-grown GaAs antenna structures. We find a pronounced dependence of the THz pulse intensity and broadband (>6.0 THz) spectral distribution on the pump excitation density and simulate this with a three-dimensional carrier dynamics model. We attribute the observed variation in THz emission to changes in the strength of the screening field.     

周期极化非线性晶体中太赫兹波辐射研究

 从理论上详细研究了飞秒激光在周期极化非线性晶体中由光整流效应产生的太赫兹（THz）波辐射。利用天线辐射原理和光栅衍射理论，着重研究THz波辐射的频域场和时域场的分布。讨论和分析了THz波辐射的中心频率、频谱宽度和电场随辐射角的变化。研究表明，THz波的带宽反比于晶体的长度或光栅数，电场随辐射角呈准谐波变化。     

平面天线在场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器中的应用

为了提高场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器的响应度并降低噪声等效功率,需要对探测器集成平面天线的结构进行合理设计与优化,本文对集成平面天线结构的场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器的研究进行了深入调研。首先,对场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器的工作原理进行了分析,介绍了集成平面天线如何解决耦合太赫兹波效率低的问题。然后,介绍了一些常用的平面天线结构,包括偶极子天线、贴片天线、缝隙天线、grating-gate和其他类型的结构,比较了各种天线的性能以及引入后对太赫兹探测器响应度的影响。通过对比不同天线结构的探测器响应度和噪声等效功率等参数指标,发现:采用平面天线结构之后,场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器的响应度有了大幅度的提升,各种类型的天线对探测器响应度都有不同程度的提升。本文着重介绍了几种集成于场效应晶体管的平面天线结构,包括各种天线的性能和研究进展,最后分析了场效应晶体管太赫兹探测器存在的问题和发展趋势。     

SIMULATION OF CARBON NANOTUBE THz ANTENNA ARRAYS

A novel THz antenna structure, made of carbon nanotube arrays is suggested. Using CST MICROWAVE STUDIO (CST MWS), the capabilities of carbon nanotube terahertz (THz) antenna arrays have been simulated. The dependence of gain, upon geometrical factors, e.g., nanotube diameter, nanotube length and the inter-tubes distance, is shown. The directivity patterns of antenna arrays and the surface current distribution of an antenna have been shown by simulation. These results could be used in the design of carbon nanotube THz antenna arrays.     

Terahertz (THz) Frequency Sources and Antennas - A Brief Review

In this paper we review THz radiation properties, generation methods, and antenna configurations. This paper suggests some new class of antennas that can be used at THz frequency, like optical antennas or Carbon nanotube antennas. THz technology has become attractive due to the low energy content and nonionizing nature of the signal. This property makes them suitable for imaging and sensing applications. But at the same time detection and generation of THz signals has been technologically challenging. This paper presents a comparative study of the generation techniques for THz frequency signals giving emphasis to the some new techniques like Quantum Cascade lasers which has created significant research interest. The main aim for this study is to find out the materials suitable for fabricating THz devices and antennas, a suitable method for generation of high power at THz frequency and an antenna that will make THz communication possible.     

Terahertz radiation from armchair carbon nanotube dipole antenna

This paper investigates the electromagnetic radiation characteristics of a metallic, large aspect ratio single walled carbon nanotube antenna in the terahertz frequency region below 12.5 THz. The key features of terahertz pulse have been revealed on the carbon nanotube antenna in comparison with conventional photoconductive switching. The terahertz waveforms, radiation power and their field distributions have been evaluated and are analysed. The Fourier transformed spectra over the whole frequency range demonstrate that the carbon nanotube antenna can be used as radiation source for broadband terahertz applications.     

Terahertz generation from Si3N4 covered photoconductive dipole antenna

We observe enhanced terahertz (THz) radiation generated from a Si3N4 film-coated GaAs photoconductive dipole antenna. Compared to an uncoated antenna with identical electrode geometry and optical excitation power, the Si3N4 film-coated antenna has a higher effective DC resistance and larger breakdown voltage. As a result, the peak amplitude of generated THz radiation is significantly enhanced due to the Si3N4 film-coated layer.     

Antenna gain enhancement by using metamaterial radome at THz band with reconfigurable characteristics based on graphene load

The reconfigurable concept of a graphene loaded patch antenna with increasing gain is proposed in this paper. We have developed the patch antenna with inset feed for THz band application for which graphene load is used to obtain the reconfigurable characteristic. It has been shown that by increasing the graphene chemical potential, the antenna resonant frequency shifted and the gain increased drastically up to 4 dBi. Additionally, we have shown that antenna efficiency is improved up to 78% which shows more than 100% of enhancement in comparison to basic antenna by increasing the graphene chemical potential. Finally, considering the antenna gain improvement, we have implemented the metamaterial layer over the antenna. In this case, the gain is increased more than 5–6 dBi. In addition, when we put the metamaterial layer over the antenna, the graphene layer shows more linear characteristics. By using parametric studies, we have defined the best point for metamaterial layer around 0.58λ. The final antenna gain is more than 11 dBi, which is useful for THz communication and THz medical imaging systems.     

Evaluation of nano-slot antenna for mid-infrared detectors

To improve the response performance of superconducting infrared detectors, we propose using a photonic antenna with a micro-detector in conjunction with a nano-structure. In this paper, we report evaluation results that show the basic characteristics of a photonic antenna in the mid-infrared region. The antenna consists of a nano-slot antenna and a thin-film load resistance placed in the center of the antenna. The antennas were designed for operation at approximately several tens of THz by using an electromagnetic simulator. Through measurements of the spectral reflectance characteristics, clear absorptions caused by the antenna properties were observed at approximately 50 THz, and high polarization dependencies were also observed. The results of the simulation qualitatively agreed with the results of the experiment. The effective area of the antenna was also evaluated and was found to be approximately 3.5 μm² at 54 THz.     

WIDE RANGE DETECTOR USING PARABOLIC CYLINDRICAL MIRROR FOR THz APPLICATIONS

A new, wide-band, high-speed and high-sensitivity THz detector has been developed. The prototype detector consists of a parabolic cylindrical mirror, a long wire antenna and a Schottky barrier diode. Direct detection measurements have shown a stable sensitivity of 150 ± 50 V/W for 1–2 THz without any adjustments. The long wire antenna was fixed at the focus of parabolic cylindrical mirror then it has been realized less operation steps, easy coupling to the external THz signals and a dramatic enhancement in the practicality of this system. The optically polished mirror and frosted surface one showed comparable sensitivities, thus easy polishing and less cost mirror fabrication can be applied for this system. The radiation pattern showed a maximum radiation angle of approximately 23° with its dominant main lobe, which was attributed to the wire antenna character and confirmed good agreements with classical antenna theory.     

Generation of THz radiation using bulk, periodically and aperiodically poled lithium niobate – Part 1: Theory

Optical rectification of femtosecond pulses in nonlinear materials is an efficient method to generate ultra short terahertz (THz) pulses over a wide frequency range extending from 100 GHz to well above 10 THz. Lithium niobate is particularly well suited for such purposes and can be used both in bulk and periodically poled forms. Different optical techniques for the generation of THz pulses are presented and compared theoretically. The whole discussion is performed for the interaction of gaussian beams using the radiating antenna approach that takes into account the diffraction of the THz wave, and therefore may predict the THz emission in a direction that differs from the optical pulse propagation. PACS 42.65.Ky; 42.70.Mp; 42.72.Ai