Abstract
The current responsivity of a semiconductor superlattice THz-photon detector is calculated using an equivalent circuit model which takes into account the finite matching efficiency between a detector antenna and the superlattice in the presence of parasitic losses. Calculations performed for currently available superlattice diodes show that both the magnitudes and the roll-off frequencies of the responsivity are strongly influenced by an excitation of hybrid plasma-Bloch oscillations which are found to be eigenmodes of the system in the THz-frequency band. The expected room temperature values of the responsivity (2–3 A/W in the 1–3 THz-frequency band) range up to several percents of the quantum efficiency e/[h-bar] omega of an ideal superconductor tunnel junction detector. Properly designed semiconductor superlattice detectors may thus demonstrate better room temperature THz-photon responsivity than conventional Schottky junction devices. ©1999 American Institute of Physics.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | Journal of Applied Physics |
Volume | 85 |
Issue number | 7 |
Pages (from-to) | 3643-3654 |
ISSN | 0021-8979 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1999 |