Investigation of the Optimal Photoresponse, Speed, and Temperature Performance of Photoelectric Tunable-Step Terahertz Detectors

We demonstrate a photoelectric tunable-step (PETS) terahertz (THz) detector with a symmetric dipole antenna based on a GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction and use it as a model system to answer key questions for the design of any type of PETS detectors: the best antenna gap design for maximum response, the speed, and temperature dependence of the PETS response. Besides efficient high-speed detection of 1.9 THz radiation, we achieve operation up to 75 K, at 8-times higher temperatures than previously demonstrated. Our findings deepen the understanding of the in-plane photoelectric effect and pave the way to future high responsivity, fast PETS THz detectors operating at high temperatures.