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Updated: May 18, 2026
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Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
Distributed gain in plasmonic reflectors and its use for terahertz generation.
O Sydoruk1, R R A Syms, L Solymar
1Optical and Semiconductor Devices Group, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK. osydoruk@imperial.ac.uk
Optics Express
|October 6, 2012
Summary
Semiconductor plasmons show promise for terahertz generation. Distributed reflectors with DC current enable plasmon amplification and reflection coefficients over unity, leading to terahertz oscillations.
Area of Science:
- Solid-state physics
- Optoelectronics
- Plasmonics
Background:
- Semiconductor plasmons offer a pathway for terahertz (THz) wave generation.
- Quasi-optical device formats necessitate the study of distributed plasmonic structures.
- Two-dimensional electron channels provide a platform for plasmon manipulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically investigate distributed plasmonic reflectors composed of cascaded 2D electron channels.
- To analyze the influence of DC current on plasmonic behavior at multiple interfaces.
- To explore the potential for THz generation and oscillation using these structures.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis using a mode-matching technique.
- Modeling of plasmonic reflectors with multiple interfaces between 2D electron channels.
- Investigation of DC current effects (magnitude and direction) on transmission and reflection.
Main Results:
- Transmission and reflection at interfaces are tunable by DC current magnitude and direction.
- Plasmons can be amplified at individual interfaces, leading to gains.
- Multiple interfaces result in cumulative gain, with reflection coefficients exceeding unity.
- Reversing current direction causes plasmonic deamplification.
Conclusions:
- Structurally asymmetric resonators, combining different distributed reflectors, can achieve THz oscillations.
- Low threshold currents are predicted for THz oscillation in these proposed resonators.
- The findings pave the way for novel semiconductor-based THz sources.
