Search for Plasma Instability Driven THz Radiation Source
Abstract
IN RESONANT TUNNELING DIODES WITH VERY LONG EMITTER DRIFT REGIONS AN ADDITIONAL STRONG CURRENT PEAK IS OBSERVED AND ATTRIBUTED TO INTERSUBBAND TRANSITIONS MEDIATED BY THE RESONANT EMISSION OF INTERSUBBAND PLASMONS. This is the first direct proof of the mechanism proposed in the project for plasmon generation. Based on these findings new types of parabolic quantum wells were grown. The first structures consist of a parabolioc injector and an quantum well extraction structure to induce a plasma instability. The IV- curves studied in these structure for various mesa sizes have been compared with selfconsistent calculations of the device current in forward direction in collaboration with the Boston group .An excellent agreement between experiment and calculation is found. In the second year detailed studies will concentrate on two topics: a) Work towards the understanding of the mechanisms which govern the gain and loss rates of the plasmon instability in confined structures designed in close collaboration with the Boston group. b) a detailed analysis of the current-voltage characteristics and the analysis of emission data to find a proof for the emission from plasmon decay in these structures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 12, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA392188
Entities
People
- C. Pacher
- E. Gornik
- G. Strasser
- M. Kast
- R. Zobi