Carbon Nanotube Based Terahertz Detectors and Sources

目标。这项工作包括对未来太赫兹(THz，1012赫兹)纳米电路开发至关重要的协同工作，利用金属单壁碳纳米管(SWCNT)这种独特的一维纳米材料：i)我们将增强我们已展示的SWCNTs作为太赫兹频率下直接探测器的性能，并展示这些新型外差探测器可构成仅需适度冷却(？100 K)的THz焦平面阵列(FPA)的敏感元件；ii)开发紧凑的THz源，其中受热的CNT可产生宽带THz辐射；iii)将探测器和源集成到THz集成电路中。我们将通过全面的含时量子模拟进一步加深我们对太赫兹下碳纳米管器件的理解，这些模拟表征了各种碳纳米管构型的等离子体共振、交流输运和接触耦合的智能优点。独特的测量将测试电磁波如何以太赫兹频率与碳纳米管中的电子相互作用和耦合的理论，包括缓慢传播等离子体和此类等离子体引起的共振，同时还获得小带隙的值。依赖时间的量子模拟将利用几种独特的方法和由Co-PI开发的一种新的本征值求解器(FEAST)。更广泛的影响。这些结果将使社会各界对一维导体的基本性质及其在很高频率下的接触有更广泛的新了解，同时让所有级别的学生都参与进来。这项工作可能会造福整个社会，特别是在实现非常紧凑的太赫兹癌症成像仪、用于安全应用的成像器以及设计太赫兹集成电路的新范例方面。

OBJECTIVE. This effort includes synergistic work crucial to the development of future terahertz (THz, 1012 Hz) nano-size circuits, employing Metallic Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) ¡V unique 1D nanoscale materials: I) We will enhance the perfomance we have demonstrated for SWCNTs as direct detectors at THz frequencies and demonstrate these as novel heterodyne detectors that can constitute sensitive elements for THz focal plane arrays (FPAs) that require only moderate cooling (?î 100 K); II) Development of compact THz sources in which heated CNTs produce broadband THz radiation; III) Integration of the detectors and sources into THz integrated circuits. We will further deepen our understanding of CNT devices at THz through comprehensive time-dependent quantum simulations that characterize plasmonic resonances, AC transport and contact coupling in a variety of CNT configurations INTELLECTUAL MERIT. Unique measurements will test theories of how electromagnetic waves interact with and couple to electrons in CNTs at THz frequencies, including slowly propagating plasmons and resonances due to such plasmons, while also obtaining values for small bandgaps. The time-dependent quantum simulations will utilize several unique approaches and a novel eigenvalue solver (¡§FEAST¡¨) developed by the Co-PI. BROADER IMPACT. The results will provide the community a broad range of new understanding of the basic properties of 1-D conductors and their contacts at very high frequencies, while involving students at all levels. The work can potentially benefit society at large, especially in terms of enabling very compact THz cancer imagers, imagers for security applications, and a new paradigm for designing THz integrated circuits.