Photoelectric tunable-step terahertz detectors: a study on optimal antenna parameters, speed, and temperature performance

Field effect transistors have shown promising performance as terahertz (THz) detectors over the past few decades. Recently, a quantum phenomenon, the in-plane photoelectric effect, was discovered as a novel detection mechanism in gated two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs), and devices based on thi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chen Ran, Xia Ruqiao, Griffiths Jonathan, Beere Harvey E., Ritchie David A., Michailow Wladislaw
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2024-02-01
Series:Nanophotonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0864
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850063783962083328
author Chen Ran
Xia Ruqiao
Griffiths Jonathan
Beere Harvey E.
Ritchie David A.
Michailow Wladislaw
author_facet Chen Ran
Xia Ruqiao
Griffiths Jonathan
Beere Harvey E.
Ritchie David A.
Michailow Wladislaw
author_sort Chen Ran
collection DOAJ
description Field effect transistors have shown promising performance as terahertz (THz) detectors over the past few decades. Recently, a quantum phenomenon, the in-plane photoelectric effect, was discovered as a novel detection mechanism in gated two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs), and devices based on this effect, photoelectric tunable-step (PETS) THz detectors, have been proposed as sensitive THz detectors. Here, we demonstrate a PETS THz detector based on GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction using a dipole antenna. We investigate the dependence of the in-plane photoelectric effect on parameters including the dimensions and the operating temperature of the device. Two figures of merit within the 2DEG, the maximum electric field and the radiation-induced ac-potential difference, are simulated to determine the optimal design of the PETS detector antenna. We identify the optimal antenna gap size, metal thickness, and 2DEG depth, and demonstrate the first PETS detector with a symmetric dipole antenna, which shows high-speed detection of 1.9 THz radiation with a strong photoresponse. Our findings deepen the understanding of the in-plane photoelectric effect and provide a universal guidance for the design of future PETS THz detectors.
format Article
id doaj-art-1b0ab2366930453db729d102ec3c8bfc
institution DOAJ
issn 2192-8614
language English
publishDate 2024-02-01
publisher De Gruyter
record_format Article
series Nanophotonics
spelling doaj-art-1b0ab2366930453db729d102ec3c8bfc2025-08-20T02:49:30ZengDe GruyterNanophotonics2192-86142024-02-0113101917192810.1515/nanoph-2023-0864Photoelectric tunable-step terahertz detectors: a study on optimal antenna parameters, speed, and temperature performanceChen Ran0Xia Ruqiao1Griffiths Jonathan2Beere Harvey E.3Ritchie David A.4Michailow Wladislaw5Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB3 0HECambridge, UKCavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB3 0HECambridge, UKCavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB3 0HECambridge, UKCavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB3 0HECambridge, UKCavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB3 0HECambridge, UKCavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB3 0HECambridge, UKField effect transistors have shown promising performance as terahertz (THz) detectors over the past few decades. Recently, a quantum phenomenon, the in-plane photoelectric effect, was discovered as a novel detection mechanism in gated two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs), and devices based on this effect, photoelectric tunable-step (PETS) THz detectors, have been proposed as sensitive THz detectors. Here, we demonstrate a PETS THz detector based on GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction using a dipole antenna. We investigate the dependence of the in-plane photoelectric effect on parameters including the dimensions and the operating temperature of the device. Two figures of merit within the 2DEG, the maximum electric field and the radiation-induced ac-potential difference, are simulated to determine the optimal design of the PETS detector antenna. We identify the optimal antenna gap size, metal thickness, and 2DEG depth, and demonstrate the first PETS detector with a symmetric dipole antenna, which shows high-speed detection of 1.9 THz radiation with a strong photoresponse. Our findings deepen the understanding of the in-plane photoelectric effect and provide a universal guidance for the design of future PETS THz detectors.https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0864two-dimensional electron gasin-plane photoelectric effectphotoelectric tunable-step detectorfar-infrared detection
spellingShingle Chen Ran
Xia Ruqiao
Griffiths Jonathan
Beere Harvey E.
Ritchie David A.
Michailow Wladislaw
Photoelectric tunable-step terahertz detectors: a study on optimal antenna parameters, speed, and temperature performance
Nanophotonics
two-dimensional electron gas
in-plane photoelectric effect
photoelectric tunable-step detector
far-infrared detection
title Photoelectric tunable-step terahertz detectors: a study on optimal antenna parameters, speed, and temperature performance
title_full Photoelectric tunable-step terahertz detectors: a study on optimal antenna parameters, speed, and temperature performance
title_fullStr Photoelectric tunable-step terahertz detectors: a study on optimal antenna parameters, speed, and temperature performance
title_full_unstemmed Photoelectric tunable-step terahertz detectors: a study on optimal antenna parameters, speed, and temperature performance
title_short Photoelectric tunable-step terahertz detectors: a study on optimal antenna parameters, speed, and temperature performance
title_sort photoelectric tunable step terahertz detectors a study on optimal antenna parameters speed and temperature performance
topic two-dimensional electron gas
in-plane photoelectric effect
photoelectric tunable-step detector
far-infrared detection
url https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0864
work_keys_str_mv AT chenran photoelectrictunablestepterahertzdetectorsastudyonoptimalantennaparametersspeedandtemperatureperformance
AT xiaruqiao photoelectrictunablestepterahertzdetectorsastudyonoptimalantennaparametersspeedandtemperatureperformance
AT griffithsjonathan photoelectrictunablestepterahertzdetectorsastudyonoptimalantennaparametersspeedandtemperatureperformance
AT beereharveye photoelectrictunablestepterahertzdetectorsastudyonoptimalantennaparametersspeedandtemperatureperformance
AT ritchiedavida photoelectrictunablestepterahertzdetectorsastudyonoptimalantennaparametersspeedandtemperatureperformance
AT michailowwladislaw photoelectrictunablestepterahertzdetectorsastudyonoptimalantennaparametersspeedandtemperatureperformance