From arrays of THz antennas to large-area emitters Articles uri icon

publication date

  • September 2013

start page

  • 532

end page

  • 544

issue

  • 5

volume

  • 3

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2156-342X

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2156-3446

abstract

  • Arrays of coherently driven photomixers with antenna (antenna emitter arrays, AEAs) have been evaluated as a possibility to overcome the power limitations of individual conventional photomixers with antenna ("antenna emitters", AEs) for the generation of continuous-wave (CW) THz radiation. In this paper, "large area emitters" (LAEs) are proposed as an alternative approach, and compared with AEAs. In this antenna-free new scheme of photomixing, the THz radiation originates directly from the acceleration of photo-induced charge carriers generated within a large semiconductor area. The quasi-continuous distribution of emitting elements corresponds to a high-density array and results in favorable radiation profiles without side lobes. Moreover, the achievable THz power is expected to outnumber even large AEAs. Last not least, the technological challenge of fabricating LAEs appears to be significantly less demanding.

keywords

  • high power terahertz; photomixers; planar antennas; terahertz (thz); thz arrays