Strong transient magnetic fields induced by THz-driven plasmons in graphene disks.

Strong circularly polarized excitation opens up the possibility to generate and control effective magnetic fields in solid state systems, e.g., via the optical inverse Faraday effect or the phonon inverse Faraday effect. While these effects rely on material properties that can be tailored only to a limited degree, plasmonic resonances can be fully controlled by choosing proper dimensions and carrier concentrations. Plasmon resonances provide new degrees of freedom that can be used to tune or enhance the light-induced magnetic field in engineered metamaterials. Here we employ graphene disks to demonstrate light-induced transient magnetic fields from a plasmonic circular current with extremely high efficiency. The effective magnetic field at the plasmon resonance frequency of the graphene disks (3.5 THz) is evidenced by a strong ( ~ 1°) ultrafast Faraday rotation ( ~ 20 ps). In accordance with reference measurements and simulations, we estimated the strength of the induced magnetic field to be on the order of 0.7 T under a moderate pump fluence of about 440 nJ cm-2.

Sub-terahertz feedback interferometry and imaging with emitters in 130 nm BiCMOS technology.

In this work, we present the effect of self-mixing in compact terahertz emitters implemented in a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The devices are based on a differential Colpitts oscillator topology with optimized emission frequency at the fundamental harmonic. The radiation is out-coupled through the substrate side using a hyper-hemispheric silicon lens. The first source is optimized for 200 GHz and radiates up to 0.525 mW of propagating power. The second source emits up to 0.325 mW at 260 GHz. We demonstrate that in these devices, feedback radiation produces the change in bias current, the magnitude of which can reach up to several percent compared to the bias current itself, enabling feedback interferometric measurements. We demonstrate the applicability of feedback interferometry to perform coherent reflection-type raster-scan imaging.

Nature of the 1/f noise in graphene-direct evidence for the mobility fluctuation mechanism.

The nature of the low-frequency 1/f noise in electronic materials and devices is one of the oldest unsolved physical problems (f is the frequency). The fundamental question of the noise source-fluctuations in the mobility vs. number of charge carriers-is still debated. While there are several pieces of evidence to prove that the 1/f noise in semiconductors is due to the fluctuations in the number of the charge carriers, there is no direct evidence of the mobility fluctuations as the source of 1/f noise in any material. Herein, we measured noise in an h-BN encapsulated graphene transistor under the conditions of geometrical magnetoresistance to directly assess the mechanism of low-frequency electronic current fluctuations. It was found that the relative noise spectral density of the graphene resistance fluctuations depends non-monotonically on the magnetic field (B) with a minimum at approximately µ0B ≅ 1 (µ0 is the electron mobility). This observation proves unambiguously that mobility fluctuations are the dominant mechanism of electronic noise in high-quality graphene. Our results are important for all proposed applications of graphene in electronics and add to the fundamental understanding of the 1/f noise origin in any electronic device.

Characterization of Silver Nanowire Layers in the Terahertz Frequency Range.

Thin layers of silver nanowires are commonly studied for transparent electronics. However, reports of their terahertz (THz) properties are scarce. Here, we present the electrical and optical properties of thin silver nanowire layers with increasing densities at THz frequencies. We demonstrate that the absorbance, transmittance and reflectance of the metal nanowire layers in the frequency range of 0.2 THz to 1.3 THz is non-monotonic and depends on the nanowire dimensions and filling factor. We also present and validate a theoretical approach describing well the experimental results and allowing the fitting of the THz response of the nanowire layers by a Drude-Smith model of conductivity. Our results pave the way toward the application of silver nanowires as a prospective material for transparent and conductive coatings, and printable antennas operating in the terahertz range-significant for future wireless communication devices.

Graphene/AlGaN/GaN RF Switch.

RF switches, which use a combination of graphene and two-dimensional high-density electron gas (2DEG) in the AlGaN/GaN system, were proposed and studied in the frequency band from 10 MHz to 114.5 GHz. The switches were integrated into the coplanar waveguide, which allows them to be used in any system without the use of, e.g., bonding, flip-chip and other technologies and avoiding the matching problems. The on-state insertion losses for the designed switches were measured to range from 7.4 to 19.4 dB, depending on the frequency and switch design. Although, at frequencies above 70 GHz, the switches were less effective, the switching effect was still evident with an approximately 4 dB on-off ratio. The best switches exhibited rise and fall switching times of ~25 ns and ~17 ns, respectively. The use of such a switch can provide up to 20 MHz of bandwidth in time-modulated systems, which is an outstanding result for such systems. The proposed equivalent circuit describes well the switching characteristics and can be used to design switches with required parameters.

Quantum-Dot Single-Electron Transistors as Thermoelectric Quantum Detectors at Terahertz Frequencies.

Low-dimensional nanosystems are promising candidates for manipulating, controlling, and capturing photons with large sensitivities and low noise. If quantum engineered to tailor the energy of the localized electrons across the desired frequency range, they can allow devising of efficient quantum sensors across any frequency domain. Here, we exploit the rich few-electron physics to develop millimeter-wave nanodetectors employing as a sensing element an InAs/InAs0.3P0.7 quantum-dot nanowire, embedded in a single-electron transistor. Once irradiated with light, the deeply localized quantum element exhibits an extra electromotive force driven by the photothermoelectric effect, which is exploited to efficiently sense radiation at 0.6 THz with a noise equivalent power <8 pWHz-1/2 and almost zero dark current. The achieved results open intriguing perspectives for quantum key distributions, quantum communications, and quantum cryptography at terahertz frequencies.

All-Electronic Emitter-Detector Pairs for 250 GHz in Silicon.

The spread of practical terahertz (THz) systems dedicated to the telecommunication, pharmacy, civil security, or medical markets requires the use of mainstream semiconductor technologies, such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) lines. In this paper, we discuss the operation of a CMOS-based free space all-electronic system operating near 250 GHz, exhibiting signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with 62 dB in the direct detection regime for one Hz equivalent noise bandwidth. It combines the state-of-the-art detector based on CMOS field-effect-transistors (FET) and a harmonic voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). Three generations of the oscillator circuit are presented, and the performance characterization techniques and their improvement are explained in detail. The manuscript presents different emitter-detector pair operation modalities, including spectroscopy and imaging.

Double-Quantum-Well AlGaN/GaN Field Effect Transistors with Top and Back Gates: Electrical and Noise Characteristics.

AlGaN/GaN fin-shaped and large-area grating gate transistors with two layers of two-dimensional electron gas and a back gate were fabricated and studied experimentally. The back gate allowed reducing the subthreshold leakage current, improving the subthreshold slope and adjusting the threshold voltage. At a certain back gate voltage, transistors operated as normally-off devices. Grating gate transistors with a high gate area demonstrated little subthreshold leakage current, which could be further reduced by the back gate. The low frequency noise measurements indicated identical noise properties and the same trap density responsible for noise when the transistors were controlled by either top or back gates. This result was explained by the tunneling of electrons to the traps in AlGaN as the main noise mechanism. The trap density extracted from the noise measurements was similar or less than that reported in the majority of publications on regular AlGaN/GaN transistors.

Roadmap of Terahertz Imaging 2021.

In this roadmap article, we have focused on the most recent advances in terahertz (THz) imaging with particular attention paid to the optimization and miniaturization of the THz imaging systems. Such systems entail enhanced functionality, reduced power consumption, and increased convenience, thus being geared toward the implementation of THz imaging systems in real operational conditions. The article will touch upon the advanced solid-state-based THz imaging systems, including room temperature THz sensors and arrays, as well as their on-chip integration with diffractive THz optical components. We will cover the current-state of compact room temperature THz emission sources, both optolectronic and electrically driven; particular emphasis is attributed to the beam-forming role in THz imaging, THz holography and spatial filtering, THz nano-imaging, and computational imaging. A number of advanced THz techniques, such as light-field THz imaging, homodyne spectroscopy, and phase sensitive spectrometry, THz modulated continuous wave imaging, room temperature THz frequency combs, and passive THz imaging, as well as the use of artificial intelligence in THz data processing and optics development, will be reviewed. This roadmap presents a structured snapshot of current advances in THz imaging as of 2021 and provides an opinion on contemporary scientific and technological challenges in this field, as well as extrapolations of possible further evolution in THz imaging.

Sensitivity of Field-Effect Transistor-Based Terahertz Detectors.

This paper presents an overview of the different methods used for sensitivity (i.e., responsivity and noise equivalent power) determination of state-of-the-art field-effect transistor-based THz detectors/sensors. We point out that the reported result may depend very much on the method used to determine the effective area of the sensor, often leading to discrepancies of up to orders of magnitude. The challenges that arise when selecting a proper method for characterisation are demonstrated using the example of a 2×7 detector array. This array utilises field-effect transistors and monolithically integrated patch antennas at 620 GHz. The directivities of the individual antennas were simulated and determined from the measured angle dependence of the rectified voltage, as a function of tilting in the E- and H-planes. Furthermore, this study shows that the experimentally determined directivity and simulations imply that the part of radiation might still propagate in the substrate, resulting in modification of the sensor effective area. Our work summarises the methods for determining sensitivity which are paving the way towards the unified scientific metrology of FET-based THz sensors, which is important for both researchers competing for records, potential users, and system designers.

Graphene as a Schottky Barrier Contact to AlGaN/GaN Heterostructures.

Electrical and noise properties of graphene contacts to AlGaN/GaN heterostructures were studied experimentally. It was found that graphene on AlGaN forms a high-quality Schottky barrier with the barrier height dependent on the bias. The apparent barrier heights for this kind of Schottky diode were found to be relatively high, varying within the range of φb = (1.0-1.26) eV. AlGaN/GaN fin-shaped field-effect transistors (finFETs) with a graphene gate were fabricated and studied. These devices demonstrated ~8 order of magnitude on/off ratio, subthreshold slope of ~1.3, and low subthreshold current in the sub-picoamperes range. The effective trap density responsible for the 1/f low-frequency noise was found within the range of (1-5) · 1019 eV-1 cm-3. These values are of the same order of magnitude as reported earlier and in AlGaN/GaN transistors with Ni/Au Schottky gate studied as a reference in the current study. A good quality of graphene/AlGaN Schottky barrier diodes and AlGaN/GaN transistors opens the way for transparent GaN-based electronics and GaN-based devices exploring vertical electron transport in graphene.

Graphene Epoxy-Based Composites as Efficient Electromagnetic Absorbers in the Extremely High-Frequency Band.

We report on the synthesis of the epoxy-based composites with graphene fillers and test their electromagnetic shielding efficiency by the quasi-optic free-space method in the extremely high-frequency (EHF) band (220-325 GHz). The curing adhesive composites were produced by a scalable technique with a mixture of single-layer and few-layer graphene layers of few-micrometer lateral dimensions. It was found that the electromagnetic transmission, T, is low even at small concentrations of graphene fillers: T<1% at a frequency of 300 GHz for a composite with only ϕ = 1 wt% graphene. The main shielding mechanism in composites with the low graphene loading is absorption. The composites of 1 mm in thickness and a graphene loading of 8 wt% provide an excellent electromagnetic shielding of 70 dB in the sub-terahertz EHF frequency band with negligible energy reflection to the environment. The developed lightweight adhesive composites with graphene fillers can be used as electromagnetic absorbers in the high-frequency microwave radio relays, microwave remote sensors, millimeter wave scanners, and wireless local area networks.

AlGaN/GaN on SiC Devices without a GaN Buffer Layer: Electrical and Noise Characteristics.

We report on the high-voltage, noise, and radio frequency (RF) performances of aluminium gallium nitride/gallium nitride (AlGaN/GaN) on silicon carbide (SiC) devices without any GaN buffer. Such a GaN-SiC hybrid material was developed in order to improve thermal management and to reduce trapping effects. Fabricated Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) demonstrated an ideality factor n at approximately 1.7 and breakdown voltages (fields) up to 780 V (approximately 0.8 MV/cm). Hall measurements revealed a thermally stable electron density at N2DEG = 1 × 1013 cm-2 of two-dimensional electron gas in the range of 77-300 K, with mobilities µ = 1.7 × 103 cm2/V∙s and µ = 1.0 × 104 cm2/V∙s at 300 K and 77 K, respectively. The maximum drain current and the transconductance were demonstrated to be as high as 0.5 A/mm and 150 mS/mm, respectively, for the transistors with gate length LG = 5 µm. Low-frequency noise measurements demonstrated an effective trap density below 1019 cm-3 eV-1. RF analysis revealed fT and fmax values up to 1.3 GHz and 6.7 GHz, respectively, demonstrating figures of merit fT × LG up to 6.7 GHz × µm. These data further confirm the high potential of a GaN-SiC hybrid material for the development of thin high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and SBDs with improved thermal stability for high-frequency and high-power applications.

Magnetoconductivity and Terahertz Response of a HgCdTe Epitaxial Layer.

An epitaxial layer of HgCdTe-a THz detector-was studied in magnetotransmission, magnetoconductivity and magnetophotoconductivity experiments at cryogenic temperatures. In the optical measurements, monochromatic excitation with photon frequency ranging from 0.05 THz to 2.5 THz was used. We show a resonant response of the detector at magnetic fields as small as 10 mT with the width of the resonant line equal to about 5 mT. Application of a circular polarizer at 2.5 THz measurements allowed for confirming selection rules predicted by the theory of optical transitions in a narrow-gap semiconductor and to estimate the band-gap to be equal to about 4.5 meV. The magnetoconductivity tensor was determined as a function of magnetic field and temperature 2 K < T < 120 K and analysed with a standard one-carrier conductivity model and the mobility spectrum technique. The sample showed n-type conductivity at all temperatures. At temperatures above about 30 K, conductivity was found to be reasonably described by the one-carrier model. At lower temperatures, this description is not accurate. The algorithm of the spectrum of mobility applied to data measured below 30 K showed presence of three types of carriers which were tentatively interpreted as electrons, light holes and heavy holes. The mobility of electrons and light holes is of the order of 10 6 cm 2 /Vs at the lowest temperatures. Magnetophotoconductivity experiments allowed for proposing a detector working at 2 K and 50 mT with a flat response between 0.05 THz and 2.5 THz.

Terahertz Detection and Imaging Using Graphene Ballistic Rectifiers.

A graphene ballistic rectifier is used in conjunction with an antenna to demonstrate a rectenna as a terahertz (THz) detector. A small-area (<1 µm2) local gate is used to adjust the Fermi level in the device to optimize the output while minimizing the impact on the cutoff frequency. The device operates in both n- and p-type transport regimes and shows a peak extrinsic responsivity of 764 V/W and a corresponding noise equivalent power of 34 pW Hz-1/2 at room temperature with no indications of a cutoff frequency up to 0.45 THz. The device also demonstrates a linear response for more than 3 orders of magnitude of input power due to its zero threshold voltage, quadratic current-voltage characteristics and high saturation current. Finally, the device is used to take an image of an optically opaque object at 0.685 THz, demonstrating potential in both medical and security imaging applications.

Terahertz 3D printed diffractive lens matrices for field-effect transistor detector focal plane arrays.

We present the concept, the fabrication processes and the experimental results for materials and optics that can be used for terahertz field-effect transistor detector focal plane arrays. More specifically, we propose 3D printed arrays of a new type - diffractive multi-zone lenses of which the performance is superior to that of previously used mono-zone diffractive or refractive elements and evaluate them with GaN/AlGaN field-effect transistor terahertz detectors. Experiments performed in the 300-GHz atmospheric window show that the lens arrays offer both a good efficiency and good uniformity, and may improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the terahertz field-effect transistor detectors by more than one order of magnitude. In practice, we tested 3 × 12 lens linear arrays with printed circuit board THz detector arrays used in postal security scanners and observed significant signal-to-noise improvements. Our results clearly show that the proposed technology provides a way to produce cost-effective, reproducible, flat optics for large-size field-effect transistor THz-detector focal plane arrays.

Heterostructured hBN-BP-hBN Nanodetectors at Terahertz Frequencies.

By reassembling thin isolated atomic planes of hexagonal borum nitride (hBN) with a few layer phosphorene black phosphorus (BP), hBN/BP/hBN heterostructures are mechanically stacked to devise high-efficiency THz photodetectors operating in the 0.3-0.65 THz range, from 4 K to 300 K, with a record signal-to-noise ratio of 20 000.

Efficient Terahertz detection in black-phosphorus nano-transistors with selective and controllable plasma-wave, bolometric and thermoelectric response.

The ability to convert light into an electrical signal with high efficiencies and controllable dynamics, is a major need in photonics and optoelectronics. In the Terahertz (THz) frequency range, with its exceptional application possibilities in high data rate wireless communications, security, night-vision, biomedical or video-imaging and gas sensing, detection technologies providing efficiency and sensitivity performances that can be "engineered" from scratch, remain elusive. Here, by exploiting the inherent electrical and thermal in-plane anisotropy of a flexible thin flake of black-phosphorus (BP), we devise plasma-wave, thermoelectric and bolometric nano-detectors with a selective, switchable and controllable operating mechanism. All devices operates at room-temperature and are integrated on-chip with planar nanoantennas, which provide remarkable efficiencies through light-harvesting in the strongly sub-wavelength device channel. The achieved selective detection (∼5-8 V/W responsivity) and sensitivity performances (signal-to-noise ratio of 500), are here exploited to demonstrate the first concrete application of a phosphorus-based active THz device, for pharmaceutical and quality control imaging of macroscopic samples, in real-time and in a realistic setting.

Improvement of terahertz field effect transistor detectors by substrate thinning and radiation losses reduction.

Phenomena of the radiation coupling to the field effect transistors based terahertz (THz) detectors are studied. We show that in the case of planar metal antennas a significant portion of incoming radiation, instead of being coupled to the transistors, is coupled to an antenna substrate leading to responsivity losses and/or cross-talk effects in the field effect based THz detector arrays. Experimental and theoretical investigations of the responsivity versus substrate thickness are performed. They clearly show how to minimize the losses by the detector/ array substrate thinning. In conclusion simple quantitative rules of losses minimization by choosing a proper substrate thickness of field effect transistor THz detectors are presented for common materials (Si, GaAs, InP, GaN) used in semiconductor technologies.

Plasma-Wave Terahertz Detection Mediated by Topological Insulators Surface States.

Topological insulators (TIs) represent a novel quantum state of matter, characterized by edge or surface-states, showing up on the topological character of the bulk wave functions. Allowing electrons to move along their surface, but not through their inside, they emerged as an intriguing material platform for the exploration of exotic physical phenomena, somehow resembling the graphene Dirac-cone physics, as well as for exciting applications in optoelectronics, spintronics, nanoscience, low-power electronics, and quantum computing. Investigation of topological surface states (TSS) is conventionally hindered by the fact that in most of experimental conditions the TSS properties are mixed up with those of bulk-states. Here, we activate, probe, and exploit the collective electronic excitation of TSS in the Dirac cone. By engineering Bi2Te(3-x)Sex stoichiometry, and by gating the surface of nanoscale field-effect-transistors, exploiting thin flakes of Bi2Te2.2Se0.8 or Bi2Se3, we provide the first demonstration of room-temperature terahertz (THz) detection mediated by overdamped plasma-wave oscillations on the "activated" TSS of a Bi2Te2.2Se0.8 flake. The reported detection performances allow a realistic exploitation of TSS for large-area, fast imaging, promising superb impacts on THz photonics.