Millimeter/submillimeter mixing based on the nonlinear plasmon response of two-dimensional electron systems

Abstract

In recent years, the millimeter/submillimeter wavelength range (terahertz radiation) has attracted the increased interest of researchers [1]. This interest is partially explained by a number of surprising prop erties of radiation of this range. Terahertz radiation penetrates without noticeable damping through a number of subjects nontransparent for visible light and does not have an ionizing action detrimental to living systems. A number of chemical reagents have unique spectral features in this range, which can be used to recognize substances. Moreover, the investigations of space submillimeter radiation make it possible to obtain much information on the content, origin, and evolution of the galaxies of the universe. The insuffi cient technological capability of this range hinders the active development of investigations and applications in the terahertz range. Cheap miniature tunable detec tors and oscillators are almost absent in the terahertz frequency range, because the physical principles underlying the operation of microwave and light devices become invalid in this wavelength range. The aim of this work is to propose and test a new physical principle for creating electronic devices, which can be widely applied in the detection systems for millime ter/submillimeter radiation.Heterodyne detectors are the most widely used receivers of terahertz radiation. The operation princi ple of heterodyne detectors is that the electromagnetic radiation from a subject under investigation is mixed with radiation of a known frequency from a hetero dyne source and is directed to a nonlinear element. A signal at the intermediate frequency ∆f, which is the difference between the frequencies of radiation from the heterodyne source and the object under investiga tion, is detected on the nonlinear element. Thus, the spectroscopy of radiation emitted by the object under investigation is performed. A Schottky diode [2] is the most widespread nonlinear element of the heterodyne schemes. Its operation is based on the nonlinearity of the current-voltage characteristic of the Schottky junction (metal-semiconductor junction). The disad vantages of the heterodyne schemes based on the Schottky diode are a narrow bandwidth (1 GHz) and a high absorbing power from the heterodyne source (1 mW). Mixers based on a superconductor-insula tor-superconductor junction (SIS mixers) constitute another widespread class of heterodyne detectors [3]. This class of mixers has record sensitivity and noise temperature parameters. The principle of their opera tion is based on the strongly nonlinear behavior of the current-voltage characteristic of the SIS junction at voltages at which the tunneling of Cooper pairs from one superconductor to another begins. The main dis advantage of this class of mixers is a very low working temperature of about 4.2 K, which strongly compli cates working with them. Bolometers constitute the third type of nonlinear elements used in the hetero dyne schemes. The mechanism of the operation of bolometers is based on the heating of...

Transmission and Reflection of Terahertz Plasmons in Two-Dimensional Plasmonic Devices

“…Plasmon nonlinearities can be used in detectors [1]- [4], oscillators [5]- [9], mixers [1], [10], [11], modulators [12], and plasmonic crystals [13], [14]. Also, plasmons can be coupled to electromagnetic waves by grating couplers and antennas, and their frequencies can be tuned in a wide range by a dc voltage.…”

Emission and detection of terahertz radiation using two-dimensional plasmons in semiconductor nanoheterostructures for nondestructive evaluations

“…Therefore, different devices/structures of micron and submicron sizes supporting low-dimensional plasmons were intensively studied as possible candidates for solid-state far-infrared (FIR)/THz sources [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] and detectors. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Mechanisms of plasma wave excitation/emission can be divided (by convention) into two types: (1) incoherent and (2) coherent. The first is related to thermal excitation of broadband nonresonant plasmons by hot electrons.…”

“…Recently, plasma wave properties were successfully used for the resonant and nonresonant (broadband) sub-THz and THz detection. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] They can be applied to real-time THz imaging/spectroscopic analysis as well as future THz wireless communications. 1 We have first proposed a 2-D plasmon-resonant microchip emitter featured with an interdigitated dual-grating gates (DGGs) structure.…”

Emission and detection of terahertz radiation using two dimensional plasmons in semiconductor nano-heterostructures for nondestructive evaluations

“…The plasma frequency depends on the resonator dimensions and the density of 2D electrons; It can reach the sub-THz or even THz range for gate lengths of a micron and submicron (nanometer) size. Therefore different devices/structures of micron and submicron sizes supporting low-dimensional plasmons were intensively studied as possible candidates for solid-state far-infrared (FIR)/THz sources [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] and detectors [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Mechanisms of plasma wave excitation/emission can be divided (by convention) into two types: (i) incoherent and (ii) coherent type.…”

“…With an asymmetric boundary condition a rectified component, gives rise to a photovoltaic effect. Recently, plasma-wave properties were successfully used for the resonant and nonresonant (broadband) sub-THz and THz detection [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. They can be applied to real-time THz imaging/spectroscopic analysis as well as future THz wireless communications [1].…”