Pulsed CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>OH Terahertz Laser Emission Pumped by a TEA CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Laser

A simple terahertz (THz) cavity and a TEA CO₂ laser for the optically pumped THz emission is studied experimentally. To obtain high peak power of pump laser, pressure ratios of gas mixture in the cavity of the TEA CO₂ laser are discussed. When CH₃OH are pumped by the 9P(16) and 9P(36) CO₂ laser lines, the generation of terahertz radiation with energy as high as 353 μJ and 307 μJ are obtained, respectively. The corresponding photon conversion efficiencies are 0.705% and 0.29%. Meanwhile, higher peak power of pump laser effectively improves the photon conversion efficiency. And the optimum THz laser pressure increases with narrower pulse width of pump laser.     

Energy spectrum and thermal properties of a terahertz quantum-cascade laser based on the resonant-phonon depopulation scheme

The dependences of the electronic-level positions and transition oscillator strengths on an applied electric field are studied for a terahertz quantum-cascade laser (THz QCL) with the resonant-phonon depopulation scheme, based on a cascade consisting of three quantum wells. The electric-field strengths for two characteristic states of the THz QCL under study are calculated: (i) “parasitic” current flow in the structure when the lasing threshold has not yet been reached; (ii) the lasing threshold is reached. Heat-transfer processes in the THz QCL under study are simulated to determine the optimum supply and cooling conditions. The conditions of thermocompression bonding of the laser ridge stripe with an n ⁺-GaAs conductive substrate based on Au–Au are selected to produce a mechanically stronger contact with a higher thermal conductivity.     

Active Graphene-Based Terahertz Dual-Band Modulator Implemented in the Presence of External Fields

In this work, we numerically demonstrate a dynamic graphene-based dual-band metamaterial modulator (gDMM) in the presence of an external magnetic field and gate electric field. With the objective of modulating terahertz waves at two separate channels, we utilize the proposed dual-field control method to dynamically modulate the optical conductivity of graphene, and thus the working frequencies of the gDMM. An interpretation for such dependence on the external fields is presented based on a quantum understanding of the energy structure of graphene, and a numerical method based on the finite element method (FEM) is employed to investigate the optical responses of our proposed gDMM. Our results show that, by varying the strength of external fields, one can switch the operation status of the two working channels located at 3.18 THz and 9.04 THz, with modulation depths exceeding 84.4%. Only 30 meV of energy is required for shifting the Fermi level to accomplish the switch, which is extremely low compared with methods in previous works using gate electric control alone. Simultaneous ON/OFF statuses are also realized. Such great tunability and controllability of our proposed gDMM over a wide frequency range may give rise to a new class of dynamic devices for terahertz and microwave applications.     

二维材料异质结增强的硅基太赫兹光调制器

研究了石墨烯/氮化硼二维异质结增强的硅基太赫兹波光调制器。利用太赫兹波时域谱系统和实验室自主搭建的太赫兹波动态测试系统分别测试了808 nm激光对太赫兹波的静态和动态调制。当照射在太赫兹波调制器上的激光功率从0增加至500 mW时,平均太赫兹波透过率从58%下降到13%,静态调制深度最高达到76%（500 mW）。动态测试获得的最大调制速度为15 kHz (100 mW)。实验结果表明,与单层石墨烯增强的硅基调制器相比,石墨烯/氮化硼异质结可以更大地提高硅对于太赫兹波的调制深度,并提升调制速度。     

基于硅基石墨烯的全光控太赫兹波强度调制系统研究

在太赫兹通信等系统中需要利用太赫兹波调制器对信号进行调制.基于GaAs 等传统半导体材料设计和制作的调制器在太赫兹波段的响应过低,因而很难应用于太赫兹系统.为了弥补传统调制技术在带宽和调制深度不够的缺点,设计了一种全新的基于硅基石墨烯的全光控太赫兹强度调制系统.该调制系统利用材料中光生载流子对太赫兹波的吸收特性,通过调节照射到材料上的可见光光强来改变光生载流子浓度,从而实现对太赫兹波强度调制.从理论和实验两方面对这种新型太赫兹强度调制系统的调制深度和调制带宽进行了研究.研究结果表明,在泵浦光功率密度为18 mW/mm2时,该调制系统能在实验使用的THz-TDS 测试系统(0.1~2.5 THz)的整个频谱范围内进行有效的调制,调制深度可达到12 %.且随着泵浦光能量的增大,调制深度增大.     

Graphene based tunable and wideband terahertz antenna for wireless network communication

A wide band terahertz dipole-antenna using graphene with tunable resonant frequency is proposed. Presence of graphene in the antenna is shown to electrically tune resonant frequency and to push the antenna to resonate with multibands in terahertz regime. The proposed terahertz antenna shows maximum of five tuning frequencies and better performance parameters such as return loss of ?? 39.7 dB, maximum directivity of 9.3 dB, five resonant tuning frequencies (multi resonances) at chemical voltage of 0.5 eV, maximum fractional bandwidth of 15.6%, maximum radiation efficiency of 21.5% and large bandwidth of 2.32 THz. Large bandwidth of the antenna can be very useful for highest possible data transfer among wireless devices. The proposed graphene based terahertz antenna has the dimensions of few micrometers so miniaturization i.e. size is reduced to 0.007 mm² which is suitable for size limited future applications such as Wireless Networks on Chip, software defined meta material and Wireless Nano Sensor Networks (WNSNs). Size of the proposed terahertz antenna is less than that reported in the literature. One reconfigurable and miniaturized antenna may replace a number of single function radiators, thereby also cost and size of a WNSNs can be abridged while performance is improved.

     

Half Cycle Terahertz Pulse Generation by Prism-Coupled Cherenkov Phase-Matching Method

Nonlinear optical terahertz wave generation is a promising method for realizing a practical source with wide frequency range and high peak power. Unfortunately, many nonlinear crystals have a strong absorption in the terahertz frequency region. This limits efficient and widely tunable terahertz wave generation. The Cherenkov phase-matching method is one of the most promising techniques for overcoming these problems. We propose a prism-coupled Cherenkov phase-matching method, in which a prism with a suitable refractive index at terahertz frequencies is coupled to a nonlinear crystal. We demonstrate prism-coupled Cherenkov phase-matching terahertz generation using the DAST and LiNbO₃ crystals. With a DAST crystal, we obtain a spectral flat tunability up to 10 THz by difference frequency generation. With a LiNbO₃ crystal, we observe a spectral flat broadband terahertz pulse generation up to 5 THz pumped by a femto second fiber laser. The obtained temporal waveform is an ideal half cycle pulse suitable for reflection terahertz tomography.     

基于多模速率方程电路建模的太赫兹量子级联激光器稳态性能及输出光谱特性分析

通过改进的三能级多模态速率方程,运用电路建模 方法,建立了太赫兹(THz)量子级联激光器(QCL)的一种等效电路模型。由于基于多模 态效应进行建模,所建模型能够有效表 征多模态效应对THz QCL光电性能的影响。模型中,涉及的非辐射散射时间、自激发射弛豫 时间以及电子逃 逸时间均根据器件有源层结构参数通过自洽数值求解获得。采用所建模型,可运用通用电路 仿真工具实现对 THz QCL光电特性的模拟分析,克服了数值分析方法计算复杂、模拟时间长的缺点。运用电 路仿 真工具PSPICE对2.47THz QCL的稳态特性和输出光谱特性进行了模拟 分析,并讨论了温度变化对器 件阈值电流、输出光功率以及输出频谱的影响,分析结果与已报道的理论和实验结果一致 ,验证了本文方法的适用性和准确性。     

Improving the Out-Coupling of a Metal-Metal Terahertz Frequency Quantum Cascade Laser Through Integration of a Hybrid Mode Section into the Waveguide

A hybrid mode section is integrated into the end of the metal-metal waveguide of a terahertz (THz) frequency quantum cascade laser (QCL) by removing sub-wavelength portions of the top metal layer. This allows a hybrid mode to penetrate into the air, which reduces the effective index of the mode and improves the out-coupling performance at the facet. The transmission of the hybrid section is further increased by ensuring its length fulfills the criterion for constructive interference. These simple modifications to a 2.5-THz metal-metal QCL waveguide result in a significant increase in the output emission power. In addition, simulations show that further improvements in out-coupling efficiency can be achieved for lower frequencies with effective refractive indices close to the geometric mean of the indices of the metal-metal waveguide and air.     

基于光学技术的太赫兹相干辐射源研究

由于太赫兹辐射的独特性质和潜在的应用价值, 国内外关于太赫兹波的产生和探测的研究正呈现日益繁荣的景象, 目前太赫兹相干辐射源的研究已成为太赫兹技术领域最重要的前沿课题之一。介绍了产生太赫兹相干辐射的三种主要途径：一是光学技术, 它从高频向低频发展, 其代表为太赫兹激光器, 如气体激光器、半导体激光器和量子级联激光器等; 二是电子学技术, 它由低频向高频发展, 如微波管、固体微波源等; 三是光电子技术, 其频率由1 THz向两侧展宽, 采用超快激光脉冲触发产生太赫兹脉冲。设计了基于光学技术的太赫兹相干辐射系统, 该装置根据气体振转能级跃迁原理, 采用高压直流激励方式产生受激辐射, 波导管谐振腔体, 工作气体为N2, CD4和D2, 经过优化设计, 预计可以产生1.54 THz和1.58 THz的波连续输出。     

Spectroscopic Study on Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics and Terahertz Amplified Stimulated Emission in Optically Pumped Graphene

This paper reviews recent advances in spectroscopic study on ultrafast carrier dynamics and terahertz (THz) stimulated emission in optically pumped graphene. The gapless and linear energy spectra of electrons and holes in graphene can lead to nontrivial features such as negative dynamic conductivity in the THz spectral range, which may lead to the development of new types of THz lasers. First, the non-equilibrium carrier relaxation/recombination dynamics is formulated to show how photoexcited carriers equilibrate their energy and temperature via carrier-carrier and carrier-phonon scatterings and in what photon energies and in what time duration the dynamic conductivity can take negative values as functions of temperature, pumping photon energy/intensity, and carrier relaxation rates. Second, we conduct time-domain spectroscopic studies using an optical pump and a terahertz probe with an optical probe technique at room temperature and show that graphene sheets amplify an incoming terahertz field. Two different types of samples are prepared for the measurement; one is an exfoliated monolayer graphene on SiO₂/Si substrate and the other is a heteroepitaxially grown non-Bernal stacked multilayer graphene on a 3C-SiC/Si epi-wafer.     

基于THz QCL 和THz QWP 的数字通信演示系统

随着无线通信速率需求的增加和材料生长、器件工艺制作水平的提高,太赫兹（THz）通信已成为未来高速无线通信系统发展的一个重要方向。介绍了太赫兹通信的特点以及国际上太赫兹通信系统的发展现状,并报导了一种利用太赫兹量子级联激光器（THz QCL）作为发射源,太赫兹量子阱探测器（THz QWP）作为接收器的太赫兹数字通信演示系统。该系统采用On-Off-Key（OOK）调制和直接强度检测方式,通信频点为3.9 THz,通信距离为2.2 m,传输速率可达1 Mbps 以上。最后探讨了该系统的带宽限制因素及其在通信速率方面的潜力。     

Continuous-Wave Frequency-Tunable Terahertz-Wave Generation From GaP

Continuous-wave (CW) single-frequency terahertz (THz) waves were generated using difference-frequency generation via excitation of phonon–polaritons in GaP. The two pump sources were an external cavity laser diode (LD) and an LD-pumped Nd : YAG laser. The power density of the latter beam was enhanced by using a ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier. The two incident beams were focused to near the wavelength of THz waves. This optical alignment enabled us to generate frequency-tunable CW THz waves in the 0.69–2.74 THz range. With a fixed angle between the pump beams, we obtained a frequency bandwidth as large as 600 GHz.     

Progress of Terahertz Devices Based on Graphene

Graphene is a one-atom-thick planar sheet of sp2-hybridized orbital bonded honeycomb carbon crystal. Its gapless and linear energy spectra of electrons and holes lead to the unique carrier transport and optical properties, such as giant carrier mobility and broadband flat optical response. As a novel material, graphene has been regarded to be extremely suitable and competent for the development of terahertz （THz） optical devices. In this paper, the fundamental electronic and optic properties of graphene are described. Based on the energy band structure and light transmittance properties of graphene, many novel graphene based THz devices have been proposed, including modulator, generator, detector, and imaging device. This progress has been reviewed. Future research directions of the graphene devices for THz applications are also proposed.     

基于超材料的太赫兹幅度调制器设计

提出了一款基于超材料的太赫兹幅度调制器,其结构由开口"弓"形超材料结构、高电子迁移率晶体管、斜十字馈线和碳化硅衬底四部分构成."弓"形超材料结构开口处的连通和断开两种状态将对通过该结构的太赫兹波产生不同的响应.在开口处添加高电子迁移率晶体管可模拟开口连通和断开的效果.当对晶体管上的栅极不施加偏压时,超材料结构开口相当于导通,对太赫兹波透射系数高;当对晶体管上的栅极施加偏压时,超材料结构开口相当于断开,对太赫兹波透射系数低.仿真结果表明,在0.22 THz处,对晶体管栅极不施加偏压时,调制器的透射系数为0.579;对晶体管栅极施加偏压时,调制器的透射系数为0.040.通过公式计算得到其调制深度为93％,而且对x和y极化入射波具有不敏感的特性.同时,通过分析0.22 THz处的电场分布和表面电流分布研究了该太赫兹调制器的工作原理.所设计的太赫兹调制器具有调制深度高、结构简单和易于加工等特点,在太赫兹通信领域具有广阔的应用前景.     

An Efficient High-energy Pulsed NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> Terahertz Laser

Experimental studies on an efficient high-energy pulsed NH₃ terahertz (THz) laser pumped by a TEA CO₂ laser are presented. Pulsed THz radiation of 204 mJ with a wavelength of 151.5 μm was generated from an ammonia laser pumped by a 32 J TEA CO₂ laser tuned to the 10P(32) transition, and the photon conversion efficiency of 18% was achieved, in which the pulsed energy was measured by pyroelectric detectors. Meanwhile, the THz transmittance was measured and compared for 5 kinds of materials. Finally, regarding the THz transmittance of these materials, a phenomenon for ammonia radiations with 91 μm and 152 μm pumped by a 9R(14) line was observed: i.e. while the 152 μm THz radiation can win in competition for gain at lower pressure, the 91 μm THz radiation in contrast can prevail at higher pressure.     

太赫兹Si/SiGe量子级联激光器波导模拟

波导层结构设计是制备太赫兹(THz)量子级联激光器的关键问题之一.本文基于德鲁得(Drude)模型,利用时域有限差分(FDTD)法,对Si/SiGe量子级联激光器的波导层进行优化设计,从理论上对传统的递变折射率波导、单面金属波导、双面金属波导以及金属/金属硅化物波导横磁模(TM模)的模式损耗和光场限制因子进行了对比分析.结果表明,金属/金属硅化物波导不但可以减小波导损耗,而且有很高的光学限制因子,同时其工艺也比双面金属波导容易实现,为Si/SiGe太赫兹量子级联激光器波导层的设计提供了一定的理论指导.     

Calculation and Study of Graphene Conductivity Based on Terahertz Spectroscopy

Based on terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system and two-dimensional scanning control system, terahertz transmission and reflection intensity mapping images on a graphene film are obtained, respectively. Then, graphene conductivity mapping images in the frequency range 0.5 to 2.5 THz are acquired according to the calculation formula. The conductivity of graphene at some typical regions is fitted by Drude-Smith formula to quantitatively compare the transmission and reflection measurements. The results show that terahertz reflection spectroscopy has a higher signal-to-noise ratio with less interference of impurities on the back of substrates. The effect of a red laser excitation on the graphene conductivity by terahertz time-domain transmission spectroscopy is also studied. The results show that the graphene conductivity in the excitation region is enhanced while that in the adjacent area is weakened which indicates carriers transport in graphene under laser excitation. This paper can make great contribution to the study on graphene electrical and optical properties in the terahertz regime and help design graphene terahertz devices.     

基于石墨烯的光控太赫兹调制器

研究了锗基单层石墨烯结构宽带光控太赫兹调制器。利用实验室搭建的太赫兹时域光谱系统,实验证明了在1 550 nm飞秒光泵浦下,该太赫兹调制器工作带宽为0.2~1.5 THz。当泵浦光功率从0增加到250 mW时,该太赫兹波调制器的平均透过率从40%下降到22%,平均吸收系数从19 cm-1增加到44 cm-1,在0.2~0.7 THz,调制深度均高于50%,最大调制深度为62%（0.38 THz）。实验结果表明,相比于纯锗基太赫兹调制器,单层石墨烯的引入能增强对太赫兹波的调制效果。     

High Mobility 3D Dirac Semimetal (Cd3As2) for Ultrafast Photoactive Terahertz Photonics

The Dirac semimetal cadmium arsenide (Cd₃As₂), a 3D electronic analog of graphene, has sparked renewed research interests for its novel topological phases and excellent optoelectronic properties. The gapless nature of its 3D electronic band facilitates strong optical nonlinearity and supports Dirac plasmons that are of particular interest to realize high-performance electronic and photonic devices at terahertz (1 THz = 4.1 meV) frequencies, where the performance of most dynamic materials are limited by the tradeoff between power-efficiency and switching speed. Here, all-optical, low-power, ultrafast broadband modulation of terahertz waves using an ultrathin film (100 nm, λ/3000) of Cd₃As₂ are experimentally demonstrated through active tailoring of the photoconductivity. The measurements reveal the photosensitive metallic behavior of Cd₃As₂ with high terahertz electron mobility of 7200 cm² (Vs)⁻¹. In addition, optical fluence dependent ultrafast charge carrier relaxation (15.5 ps), terahertz mobility, and long momentum scattering time (157 fs) comparable to superconductors that invoke kinetic inductance at terahertz frequencies are demonstrated. These remarkable properties of 3D Dirac topological semimetal envision a new class of power-efficient, high speed, compact, tunable electronic, and photonic devices.