arXiv · cond-mat/9809390
Current responsivity of semiconductor superlattice THz-photon detectors
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 $e/\hbarω$ 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.
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Anatoly A. Ignatov, Antti-Pekka Jauho. 1998-09-29. Current responsivity of semiconductor superlattice THz-photon detectors. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.369728
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