Field-effect Self-mixing Terahertz Detectors

A comprehensive device model considering both spatial distributions of the terahertz field and the field-effect self-mixing factor has been constructed for the first time in the thesis. The author has found that it is the strongly localized terahertz field induced in a small fraction of the gated electron channel that plays an important role in the high responsivity. An AlGaN/GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistor with a 2-micron-sized gate and integrated dipole antennas has been developed and can offer a noise-equivalent power as low as 40 pW/Hz1/2 at 900 GHz. By further reducing the gate length down to 0.2 micron, a noise-equivalent power of 6 pW/Hz1/2 has been achieved. This thesis provides detailed experimental techniques anddevice simulation for revealing the self-mixing mechanism including a scanning probe technique for evaluating the effectiveness of terahertz antennas. As such, the thesis could be served as a valuable introduction towards further development of high-sensitivity field-effect terahertz detectors for practical applications.

Résumé
A comprehensive device model considering both spatialdistributions of the terahertz field and the field-effect self-mixing factorhas been constructed for the first time in the thesis. The author has foundthat it is the strongly localized terahertz field induced in a small fractionof the gated electron channel that plays an important role in the highresponsivity. An AlGaN/GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistor with a2-micron-sized gate and integrated dipole antennas has been developed and canoffer a noise-equivalent power as low as 40 pW/Hz1/2 at 900 GHz. By furtherreducing the gate length down to 0.2 micron, a noise-equivalent power of 6pW/Hz1/2 has been achieved. This thesis provides detailed experimentaltechniques and device simulation for revealing the self-mixing mechanismincluding a scanning probe technique for evaluating the effectiveness ofterahertz antennas. As such, the thesis could be served as a valuableintroduction towards further development of high-sensitivity field-effect terahertzdetectors for practical applications.

Contenu
Introduction.- Field-Effect Self-Mixing Mechanism and Detector Model.- Realization of Terahertz Self-Mixing Detectors Based on AlGaN/GaN HEMT.- Realization of Resonant Plasmon Excitation and Detection.- Scanning Near-Field Probe for Antenna Characterization.- Applications.- Conclusions and Outlook.