title: High Sensitivity Terahertz Detection through Large-Area Plasmonic Nano-Antenna Arrays.
abstract: Plasmonic photoconductive antennas have great promise for increasing responsivity and detection sensitivity of conventional photoconductive detectors in time-domain terahertz imaging and spectroscopy systems. However, operation bandwidth of previously demonstrated plasmonic photoconductive antennas has been limited by bandwidth constraints of their antennas and photoconductor parasitics. Here, we present a powerful technique for realizing broadband terahertz detectors through large-area plasmonic photoconductive nano-antenna arrays. A key novelty that makes the presented terahertz detector superior to the state-of-the art is a specific large-area device geometry that offers a strong interaction between the incident terahertz beam and optical pump at the nanoscale, while maintaining a broad operation bandwidth. The large device active area allows robust operation against optical and terahertz beam misalignments. We demonstrate broadband terahertz detection with signal-to-noise ratio levels as high as 107 dB.
authors.affiliation: Electrical Engineering Department, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Nezih Tolga
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Yardimci
authors.affiliation: Electrical Engineering Department, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarrahi
mesh_terms: D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D055053:Terahertz Radiation