CAREER: Next Generation Photomixer-Based Terahertz Sources

目的：这项事业项目旨在通过研究新一代用于电信波长泵浦的等离子体激元分布式Ge光电转换器来解决现有光电转换器的输出功率限制问题。通过解决传统光电二极管热击穿的主要障碍，拟议的技术有望提供比现有技术高出数量级的太赫兹功率水平。智力优势：在这项研究计划中，PI将首次调查使用Ge作为解决光电二极管热击穿问题的有前途的候选材料。PI还旨在研究使用分布式等离子体接触电极来进一步提高Ge光电二极管的量子效率。等离子体电极有望显著提高泵的耦合效率，同时实现对光生载流子的超高速收集。此外，分布式光混合器结构缓解了与高强度光泵相关的非理想效应，如载流子屏蔽效应和过热。广泛影响：太赫兹源在开发高性能太赫兹成像和光谱系统方面具有广阔的应用前景。这一职业计划的教育部分旨在将教育与新兴太赫兹技术领域的研究活动结合起来。将开发新的研究生课程，本科生将通过教学模块、暑期项目和高级设计项目接触到基本的太赫兹概念。在外展、K12活动、招募和留住妇女以及代表性不足的少数族裔方面的努力，将增加太赫兹工程师和科学家的供应，并进一步扩大该计划的影响力。

Objective: This CAREER project aims to address the output power limitation of existing photomixers by investigating a new generation of plasmonic distributed Ge photomixers pumped at telecom wavelengths. By tackling the major obstacle of thermal breakdown of conventional photomixers, the proposed technology is expected to offer terahertz power levels that are orders of magnitude higher than is currently available from existing technologies.Intellectual Merits: In this research plan, the PI will investigate, for the first time, the use of Ge as a promising candidate to tackle the thermal breakdown problem of photomixers. The PI also aims to investigate the use of distributed plasmonic contact electrodes to further improve the quantum efficiency of Ge photomixers. Plasmonic electrodes are expected to significantly enhance the pump coupling efficiency, while enabling ultra-high-speed collection of photo-generated carriers. Moreover, distributed photomixer architectures mitigate the non-ideal effects associated with the high intensity optical pumps, such as the carrier screening effect and excessive heating.Broad Impacts: Promising application of the terahertz source is in development of high-performance terahertz imaging and spectrometry systems. The educational component of this CAREER program intends to integrate education with research activities in the emerging field of terahertz technology. New graduate courses will be developed and undergraduates will be exposed to basic terahertz concepts through teaching modules, summer programs and senior design projects. Efforts in outreach, K12 activities, recruitment and retention of women, and under-represented minorities, will increase the supply of terahertz engineers and scientists, and further broaden the influence of the program.