Abstract-Terahertz Nanoscopy of Plasmonic Resonances with a Quantum Cascade Laser

Riccardo Degl’Innocenti , Robert Wallis, Binbin Wei, Long Xiao, Stephen J. Kindness, Oleg Mitrofanov, Philipp Braeuninger-Weimer, Stephan Hofmann, Harvey E. Beere, David A. Ritchie

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=124073320791841682#editor/target=post;postID=2366204696351202320

We present a terahertz (THz) scattering near-field optical microscope (s-SNOM) based on a quantum cascade laser implemented as both source and detector in a self-mixing scheme utilizing resonant quartz tuning forks as a sensitive nanopositioning element. The homemade s-SNOM, based on a resonant tuning fork and metallic tip, operates in tapping mode with a spatial resolution of ∼78 nm. The quantum cascade laser is realized from a bound-to-continuum active region design with a central emission of ∼2.85 THz, which has been lens-coupled in order to maximize the feedback into the laser cavity. Accordingly, the spatial resolution corresponds to >λ/1000. The s-SNOM has been used to investigate a bidimensional plasmonic photonic crystal and to observe the optical resonant modes supported by coupled plasmonic planar antennas, showing remarkable agreement with the theoretical predictions. The compactness, unique sensitivity, and fast acquisition capability of this approach make the proposed s-SNOM a unique tool for solid-state investigations and biomedical imaging.

Abstract-Bolometric detection of terahertz quantum cascade laser radiation with graphene-plasmonic antenna arrays

Riccardo Degl'Innocenti1,3, Long Xiao1,2, Stephen J Kindness1, Varun S Kamboj1, Binbin Wei1, Philipp Braeuninger-Weimer2, Kenichi Nakanishi2, Adrianus I Aria2, Stephan Hofmann2, 

 David A Ritchie1 , Harvey E Beere1

Published 27 March 2017 • © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd 

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6463/aa64bf/meta

We present a fast room temperature terahertz detector based on graphene loaded plasmonic antenna arrays. The antenna elements, which are arranged in series and are shorted by graphene, are contacting source and drain metallic pads, thus providing both the optical resonant element and the electrodes. The distance between the antenna's arms of approximately 300 nm allows a strong field enhancement in the graphene region, when the incident radiation is resonant with the antennas. The current passing through the source and drain is dependent on the graphene's conductivity, which is modified by the power impinging onto the detector as well as from the biasing back-gate voltage. The incident radiation power is thus translated into a current modification, with the main detection mechanism being attributed to the bolometric effect. The device has been characterized and tested with two bound to continuum terahertz quantum cascade lasers emitting at a single frequency around 2 THz and 2.7 THz yielding a maximum responsivity of ~2 mA W−1.

Abstract-Fast room temperature detection of terahertz quantum cascade lasers with graphene loaded bow-tie plasmonic antenna arrays

Riccardo Degl'Innocenti, Long Xiao, David S. Jessop, Stephen J Kindness, Yuan Ren, Hungyen Lin, J. Axel Zeitler, Jack A. Alexander-Webber, Hannah J Joyce, Philipp Braeuninger-Weimer, Stephan Hofmann, Harvey E Beere, and David A. Ritchie

ACS Photonics, Just Accepted Manuscript

DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.6b00405

Publication Date (Web): September 20, 2016

Copyright © 2016 American Chemical Society

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=124073320791841682#editor/target=post;postID=4022381804460754923

We present a fast room temperature terahertz detector based on interdigitated bow-tie antennas contacting graphene. Highly efficient photodetection was achieved by using two metals with different work functions as the arms of a bow-tie antenna contacting graphene. Arrays of the bow-ties were fabricated in order to enhance the responsivity and coupling of the incoming light to the detector realizing an efficient imaging system. The device has been characterized and tested with a terahertz quantum cascade laser emitting in single frequency around 2 THz yielding a responsivity of ~ 34 μA/W and a noise-equivalent-power of ~1.5E-7W/Hz1/2

Abstract-Fast modulation of terahertz quantum cascade lasers using graphene loaded plasmonic antennas

Riccardo Degl'Innocenti, David S. Jessop, Christian W. O. Sol, Long Xiao, Stephen J. Kindness, Hungyen Lin, J. Axel Zeitler, Philipp Braeuninger-Weimer, Stephan Hofmann, Yuan Ren, Varun S. Kamboj, Jonathan P. Griffiths, Harvey E. Beere, and David A. Ritchie

ACS Photonics, Just Accepted Manuscript

DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5b00672

Publication Date (Web): February 23, 2016

Copyright © 2016 American Chemical Society

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsphotonics.5b00672?journalCode=apchd5

We report the fast amplitude modulation of a quantum cascade laser emitting in single mode operation in the terahertz frequency range by employing compact, integrated devices based on the interplay between plasmonic antenna arrays and monolayer graphene. By acting on the carrier concentration of graphene the optical response of these plasmonic resonances was modified. The modulators characteristics have been studied by using both time domain spectroscopic laser systems, yielding the broad frequency response of these resonant arrays, and quantum cascade lasers, providing us with a narrow and stable laser source, a mandatory prerequisite for the determination of the modulation speed of these devices. The measured modulation speed exhibits a cut-off frequency of 5.5 MHz ± 1.1 MHz. These results represent the first step toward the realization of fast integrated circuitry for communications in the terahertz frequency range.