We report on the photoresponse dependence on the terahertz radiation intensity in ALGaN/GaN HEMTs. We show that the ALGaN/GaN HEMT can be used as a THz detector in CW and in pulsed regime up to radiation intensity of several kW/cm(2). The dynamic range in the pulsed regime of detection can be more than 2 decades. We observed that the photoresponse of the HEMT could have a compound composition if two independent parts of the transistor are involved in the detection process; this result indicates that a more simple one channel device may be preferable on the detection purpose.

Terahertz power dependence of the photoresponse of field effect transistors, operating at frequencies from 0.1 to 3 THz for incident radiation power density up to 100 kW/cm(2) was studied for Si metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors and InGaAs high electron mobility transistors. The photoresponse increased linearly with increasing radiation intensity up to the kW/cm(2) range. Nonlinearity followed by saturation of the photoresponse was observed for all investigated field effect transistors for intensities above several kW/cm(2). The observed photoresponse nonlinearity is explained by nonlinearity and saturation of the transistor channel current. A theoretical model of terahertz field effect transistor photoresponse at high intensity was developed. The model explains quantitative experimental data both in linear and nonlinear regions. Our results show that dynamic range of field effect transistors is very high and can extend over more than six orders of magnitudes of power densities (from similar to 0.5 mW/cm(2) to similar to 5 kW/cm(2)). (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Terahertz power dependence of the photoresponse of field effect transistors, operating at frequencies from 0.1 to 3 THz for incident radiation power density up to 100 kW/cm^2 was studied for Si metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors and InGaAs high electron mobility transistors. The photoresponse increased linearly with increasing radiation power up to kW/cm^2 range. The saturation of the photoresponse was observed for all investigated field effect transistors for intensities above several kW/cm^2. The observed signal saturation is explained by drain photocurrent saturation similar to saturation in direct currents output characteristics. The theoretical model of terahertz field effect transistor photoresponse at high intensity was developed. The model explains quantitatively experimental data both in linear and nonlinear (saturation) range. Our results show that dynamic range of field effect transistors is very high and can extend over more than six orderd of magnitudes of power densities (from 0.5 mW/cm^2 to 5 kW/cm^2).

D. B. But, C. Drexler, M. V. Sakhno, N. Dyakonova , O. Drachenko, F. F. Sizov, A. Gutin, S. D. Ganichev, W. Knap 1 UMR 5221 CNRS, Universite Montpellier 2, Montpellier 34095, France 2 V.E. Lashkaryov Inst Semicond Phys, Kiev, 03028, Ukraine 3 Terahertz Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93040, Germany 4 Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden Rossendorf, Inst Ion Beam Phys & Mat Res, Dresden, 01314, Germany and 5 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 12180, USA (Dated: February 4, 2014)

We report on the experimental and theoretical study of the Reststrahlen Band assisted photocurrents in epitaxial grown graphene on SiC. We show that excitation of graphene with infrared radiation results in a dc current. We demonstrate that photocurrent in response to linearly polarized radiation exhibit a resonance enhancement in the frequency range of the Reststrahlen Band of the SiC substrate. By contrast the photocurrent excited by circularly polarized radiation is suppressed in the same spectral range. The developed theory is in agreement with the data and reveals a strong influence of the Reststrahl Band on the high frequency transport in graphene.

We report on the observation of magnetic quantum ratchet (MQR) effect induced by electric field of terahertz radiation in single-layer graphene samples subjected to an inplane magnetic field. We show that the dc electric current stems from the orbital asymmetry of the Dirac fermions induced by an in-plane magnetic field, while the periodic driving comes from terahertz radiation. A microscopic theory of the observed effect is developed being in a good qualitative agreement with the experiment. The observation of the ratchet transport in the purest possible two-dimensional system indicates that the orbital effects may appear and be substantial in other 2D crystals, such as boron nitride, molybdenum dichalcogenides, and related heterostructures. The measurable orbital effects in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field give strong evidence for the existence of structure inversion asymmetry in graphene.

We use two antenna model to develop a theory of the recently observed helicity-sensitive detection of terahertz radiation by FETs. The effect is due to the mixing of the ac signals produced in the channel by the two antennas. We obtain the helicity-dependent part of the photoresponse and its dependence on the antenna impedance, gate length, and gate voltage.

We report on the observation of the reststrahl band-assisted photocurrents in epitaxial graphene on SiC excited by infrared radiation. The peculiar spectral dependence for frequencies lying within the reststrahl band of the SiC substrate provides a direct and noninvasive way to probe the electric field magnitude at atomic distances from the material's surface. Furthermore our results reveal that nonlinear optical and optoelectronic phenomena in two-dimensional crystals and other atomic scale structures can be giantly enhanced by their deposition on a substrate with negative dielectric constant.

The goal of our work was to study the capability of field effect transistors to measure high power THz radiation at frequencies from 0.1 up to 3 THz and to determine the linear detection limits. We observed different types of the photoresponse dependence on the incident radiation power. We qualitatively explain the unusual sub-linear behavior observed in high intensities.

We report on the observation of the reststrahl band assisted photocurrents in epitaxial graphene on SiC excited by infrared radiation. The peculiar spectral dependence for frequencies lying within the reststrahl band of the SiC substrate provides a direct and noninvasive way to probe the electric field magnitude at atomic distances from the material's surface. Furthermore our results reveal that nonlinear optical and optoelectronic phenomena in 2D crystals and other atomic scale structures can be giantly enhanced by a proper combination of the spectral range and substrate material.

Field effect transistors are promising detectors of THz radiation. They operate at room temperatures have high responsivity, low noise equivalent power, and fast response time. However, their linearity (dynamic range) and possibility of their application in the domain of high power radiation has not been yet sufficiently studied. We have investigated room temperature field effect transistors, detection at frequencies from 0.3 to 3 THz with power up to 100 kW/cm(2). Several types of HEMTs and MOSFETs operating in the broadband non resonant detection regime, have been investigated. To provide a wide range of incident THz radiation intensities we used continuous-wave and pulsed sources: backward oscillators, CO2 pumped methanol laser, free electron laser, NH3, D2O, and CH3F lasers. We find that the photoresponse of HEMTs and MOSFETs is linear in radiation intensity up to a several kW/cm(2) and then it saturates. The onset of the saturation depends on the radiation frequency and the transistor type. The observed saturation behavior can not be explained by the existing theoretical model which predict a square root like dependence of the photoresponse. We tentatively attribute the unusual features of the photoresponse saturation observed at high intensities considering high electric field transport phenomena, e. g., electron heating and electron velocity saturation.

Terahertz (THz) light helicity sensitive photoresponse in GaAs/AlGaAs high electron mobility transistors and silicon metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors is reported. The helicity dependent detection mechanism is interpreted as an interference of plasma oscillations in the channel of the field-effect-transistors (generalized Dyakonov-Shur model). The observed helicity dependent photoresponse is by several orders of magnitude higher than any earlier reported one. Also linear polarization sensitive photoresponse was registered by the same transistors. The results provide the basis for a new sensitive, all-electric, room-temperature and fast (<; 1 ns) characterization of all polarization parameters (Stokes parameters) of THz radiation. It paves the way towards THz ellipsometry and polarization sensitive imaging based on field-effect-transistors.

An application of terahertz metamaterials as transducer elements for chemical sensors is reported. A planar array of split-ring resonators was formed from gold on the surface of silicon wafer and coated by polyaniline. Analyte binding to polyaniline leads to well measurable changes of the resonance frequency.

We report on the observation of terahertz radiation induced photocurrents in single-layer graphene samples subjected to an in-plane magnetic field. The photosignal is observed for both, linearly and circularly polarized radiation. A remarkable effect is that the current inverts its sign not only by switching the magnetic field direction, but as well by changing the radiation helicity from left- to right-handedness. We demonstrate that the photocurrent stems from strong structure inversion asymmetry (SIA) of samples originating from the presence of substrate and/or adatoms on graphene. The analysis shows that the observed effect represents a new type of ratchet effects: magnetic field induced ratchets. A microscopic theory of the observed effect is developed being in a good qualitative agreement with the experiment. Furthermore, the experiments open a promising access to the investigation of SIA which is of particular interest for the understanding of graphene properties as well as applications.

Terahertz light helicity sensitive photoresponse in GaAs/AlGaAs high electron mobility transistors. The helicity dependent detection mechanism is interpreted as an interference of plasma oscillations in the channel of the field-effect-transistors (generalized Dyakonov-Shur model). The observed helicity dependent photoresponse is by several orders of magnitude higher than any earlier reported one. Also, linear polarization sensitive photoresponse was registered by the same transistors. The results provide the basis for a new sensitive, all-electric, room-temperature, and fast (better than 1 ns) characterisation of all polarization parameters (Stokes parameters) of terahertz radiation. It paves the way towards terahertz ellipsometry and polarization sensitive imaging based on plasma effects in field-effect-transistors.