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Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
Green light stimulates terahertz emission from mesocrystal microspheres
1National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
Nature Nanotechnology
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Researchers developed nanoscale terahertz radiation sources using zinc oxide (ZnO) microspheres. These novel ZnO materials efficiently convert laser light into terahertz waves, opening new avenues for nanoscale imaging and applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optics and Photonics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Efficient terahertz (THz) radiation sources are crucial for advanced imaging and sensing applications.
- Developing nanoscale THz sources could unlock novel applications in various scientific fields.
- Previous research observed THz emission from ZnO nanostructures via mechanical vibrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of core-shell ZnO mesocrystal microspheres as nanoscale terahertz radiation sources.
- To explore the mechanism of terahertz emission from these ZnO microspheres.
- To assess the efficiency and competitiveness of ZnO microspheres compared to existing THz emitters.
Main Methods:
- Excitation of ZnO mesocrystal microspheres using a continuous green-wavelength laser.
- Observation and analysis of mechanical resonance and radiative emission at approximately 0.36 THz.
- Characterization of the energy conversion efficiency and quantum efficiency of the terahertz emission.
Main Results:
- Observed mechanical resonance and radiative emission at ~0.36 THz from ZnO microspheres.
- Achieved a power conversion efficiency of ~0.016% and a quantum efficiency of ~33%.
- Identified coherent photo-induced vibration of hexagonal ZnO nanoplates as the source of resonance and radiation.
Conclusions:
- Core-shell ZnO mesocrystal microspheres are a viable and efficient nanoscale source of terahertz radiation.
- The observed efficiencies make ZnO microspheres competitive with current terahertz-emitting materials.
- A nonclassical, self-organized crystallization process provides a straightforward route to fabricating these THz-emitting nanostructures.
