Carbon Nanotube Based Terahertz Detectors and Sources

OBJECTIVE. 这一努力包括对未来太赫兹发展至关重要的协同工作（太赫兹，1012赫兹）纳米尺寸电路，采用金属单壁碳纳米管（SWCNTs）-独特的一维纳米材料：（一）我们将提高我们已经证明的单壁碳纳米管作为太赫兹频率直接探测器的性能，并证明这些作为新型外差探测器，可以构成太赫兹焦平面的敏感元件仅需要适度冷却的阵列（FPA）（？100 K）; II）开发紧凑的THz源，其中加热的CNT产生宽带THz辐射; III）将检测器和源集成到THz集成电路中。我们将通过全面的时间相关量子模拟来进一步加深我们对太赫兹CNT器件的理解，这些量子模拟表征了各种CNT配置中的等离子体共振，AC传输和接触耦合。独特的测量将测试电磁波如何在太赫兹频率下与碳纳米管中的电子相互作用和耦合的理论，包括缓慢传播的等离子体激元和由于这种等离子体激元引起的共振，同时还获得小带隙的值。含时量子模拟将利用Co-PI开发的几种独特的方法和一种新颖的本征值求解器（FEAST）。更广泛的影响。 结果将为社会提供一个广泛的新的理解的基本属性的1-D导体和他们的接触在非常高的频率，同时涉及各级学生。这项工作可能会使整个社会受益，特别是在实现非常紧凑的THz癌症成像仪，安全应用成像仪以及设计THz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.