Greatly enhanced continuous-wave terahertz emission by nano-electrodes in a photoconductive photomixer

H. Tanoto; J. H. Teng; Q. Y. Wu; M. Sun; Z. N. Chen; S. A. Maier; B. Wang; C. C. Chum; G. Y. Si; A. J. Danner; S. J. Chua

doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.322

Greatly enhanced continuous-wave terahertz emission by nano-electrodes in a photoconductive photomixer

H. Tanoto, J. H. Teng, Q. Y. Wu, M. Sun, Z. N. Chen, S. A. Maier, B. Wang, C. C. Chum, G. Y. Si, A. J. Danner, S. J. Chua

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

An efficient, room-temperature-operation continuous-wave terahertz source will greatly benefit compact terahertz system development for high-resolution terahertz spectroscopy and imaging applications. Here, we report highly efficient continuous-wave terahertz emission using nanogap electrodes in a photoconductive antenna-based photomixer. The tip-to-tip nanogap electrode structure provides strong terahertz field enhancement and acts as a nano-antenna to radiate the terahertz wave generated in the active region of the photomixer. In addition, it provides good impedance-matching to the terahertz planar antenna and exhibits a lower RC time constant, allowing more efficient radiation, especially at the higher part of the terahertz spectrum. As a result, the output power of the photomixer with the new nanogap electrode structure in the active region is two orders of magnitude higher than for a photomixer with typical interdigitated electrodes. The terahertz emission bandwidth also increases by a factor of more than two.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	121-126
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature Photonics
Volume	6
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2011.322
Publication status	Published - Feb 2012
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Greatly enhanced continuous-wave terahertz emission by nano-electrodes in a photoconductive photomixer",

abstract = "An efficient, room-temperature-operation continuous-wave terahertz source will greatly benefit compact terahertz system development for high-resolution terahertz spectroscopy and imaging applications. Here, we report highly efficient continuous-wave terahertz emission using nanogap electrodes in a photoconductive antenna-based photomixer. The tip-to-tip nanogap electrode structure provides strong terahertz field enhancement and acts as a nano-antenna to radiate the terahertz wave generated in the active region of the photomixer. In addition, it provides good impedance-matching to the terahertz planar antenna and exhibits a lower RC time constant, allowing more efficient radiation, especially at the higher part of the terahertz spectrum. As a result, the output power of the photomixer with the new nanogap electrode structure in the active region is two orders of magnitude higher than for a photomixer with typical interdigitated electrodes. The terahertz emission bandwidth also increases by a factor of more than two.",

author = "H. Tanoto and Teng, {J. H.} and Wu, {Q. Y.} and M. Sun and Chen, {Z. N.} and Maier, {S. A.} and B. Wang and Chum, {C. C.} and Si, {G. Y.} and Danner, {A. J.} and Chua, {S. J.}",

note = "Funding Information: H.T. and J.H.T. thank M. Tonouchi for helpful discussions. This work is financially supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore (grant nos 082 1410038, 092 1540097 and 092 1540098) and by the Leverhulme Trust (UK).",

year = "2012",

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language = "English",

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AU - Tanoto, H.

AU - Teng, J. H.

AU - Wu, Q. Y.

AU - Sun, M.

AU - Chen, Z. N.

AU - Maier, S. A.

AU - Wang, B.

AU - Chum, C. C.

AU - Si, G. Y.

AU - Danner, A. J.

AU - Chua, S. J.

N1 - Funding Information: H.T. and J.H.T. thank M. Tonouchi for helpful discussions. This work is financially supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore (grant nos 082 1410038, 092 1540097 and 092 1540098) and by the Leverhulme Trust (UK).

PY - 2012/2

Y1 - 2012/2

N2 - An efficient, room-temperature-operation continuous-wave terahertz source will greatly benefit compact terahertz system development for high-resolution terahertz spectroscopy and imaging applications. Here, we report highly efficient continuous-wave terahertz emission using nanogap electrodes in a photoconductive antenna-based photomixer. The tip-to-tip nanogap electrode structure provides strong terahertz field enhancement and acts as a nano-antenna to radiate the terahertz wave generated in the active region of the photomixer. In addition, it provides good impedance-matching to the terahertz planar antenna and exhibits a lower RC time constant, allowing more efficient radiation, especially at the higher part of the terahertz spectrum. As a result, the output power of the photomixer with the new nanogap electrode structure in the active region is two orders of magnitude higher than for a photomixer with typical interdigitated electrodes. The terahertz emission bandwidth also increases by a factor of more than two.

AB - An efficient, room-temperature-operation continuous-wave terahertz source will greatly benefit compact terahertz system development for high-resolution terahertz spectroscopy and imaging applications. Here, we report highly efficient continuous-wave terahertz emission using nanogap electrodes in a photoconductive antenna-based photomixer. The tip-to-tip nanogap electrode structure provides strong terahertz field enhancement and acts as a nano-antenna to radiate the terahertz wave generated in the active region of the photomixer. In addition, it provides good impedance-matching to the terahertz planar antenna and exhibits a lower RC time constant, allowing more efficient radiation, especially at the higher part of the terahertz spectrum. As a result, the output power of the photomixer with the new nanogap electrode structure in the active region is two orders of magnitude higher than for a photomixer with typical interdigitated electrodes. The terahertz emission bandwidth also increases by a factor of more than two.

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Greatly enhanced continuous-wave terahertz emission by nano-electrodes in a photoconductive photomixer

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