DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF SINGULAR ELECTRIC-FIELD TERAHERTZ PHOTOCONDUCTING ANTENNAS

We present new designs of more efficient terahertz (THz) radiation emi tters and detectors enhanced by electric field singularities using sha rp and laterally offset electrodes. Mie compare the performances of th e terahertz emission and different polarization properties resulting f rom these structures. An average THz radiation power of 3 mu W is achi eved under 20 mW excitation, calibrated by free space electro-optic sa mpling. We also study the gap size dependence of the THz radiation, an d find an absence of a positive electrode effect in the small gap limi t. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.