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Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
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Nonlinear Plasmonic Metasurface Terahertz Emitters for Compact Terahertz Spectroscopy Systems
Mai Tal1,2,3, Shay Keren-Zur1,3, Tal Ellenbogen1,3
1Department of Physical Electronics, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6779801, Israel.
ACS Photonics
|December 28, 2020
Summary
Nonlinear plasmonic metasurfaces can now be driven by low-energy near-infrared pulses to generate broadband terahertz (THz) radiation. This breakthrough enables compact THz systems with efficiencies comparable to thicker crystals.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Electronics
Background:
- Nonlinear plasmonic metasurfaces offer compact broadband terahertz (THz) radiation generation.
- Current limitations include reliance on expensive, large amplified laser systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of driving metasurface emitters with low-energy near-infrared femtosecond pulses.
- To assess the performance and potential applications of these novel THz emitters.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 40 nm thick nonlinear plasmonic metasurfaces.
- Characterization of THz emission driven by near-infrared femtosecond pulses.
- Spectroscopic measurement of alpha-lactose monohydrate using the metasurface emitter.
Main Results:
- Observed broadband THz emission from the metasurfaces.
- Achieved near-infrared to THz conversion efficiencies comparable to significantly thicker nonlinear crystals (e.g., ZnTe).
- Demonstrated successful spectroscopic application with the metasurface emitter.
Conclusions:
- Nonlinear plasmonic metasurfaces driven by low-energy near-infrared pulses are a viable alternative for THz generation.
- These metasurfaces can be integrated into compact THz spectroscopy and imaging systems.
- This advancement broadens the application scope for THz technologies.
