Search arXivSearch

arXiv · 2108.12877

TeraFET terahertz detectors with spatially non-uniform gate capacitances

Abstract

A non-uniform capacitance profile in the channel of a THz field-effect transistor (TeraFET) could significantly improve the THz detection performance. The analytical solutions and simulations of the hydrodynamic equations for the exponentially varying capacitance versus distance showed ~10% increase in the responsivity for the 130 nm Si TeraFETs in good agreement with numerical simulations. Using the numerical solutions of the hydrodynamic equations, we compared three different Cg configurations (exponential, linear and sawtooth). The simulations showed that the sawtooth configuration provides the largest response tunability. We also compared the effects of the non-uniform capacitance profiles for Si, III-V, and p-diamond TeraFETs. The results confirmed a great potential of p-diamond for THz applications. Varying the threshold voltage across the channel could have an effect similar to that of varying the gate-to-channel capacitance. The physics behind the demonstrated improvement in THz detection performance is related to breaking the channel symmetry by device geometry of composition asymmetry.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Yuhui Zhang, Michael S. Shur. 2021-08-29. TeraFET terahertz detectors with spatially non-uniform gate capacitances. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0069072

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Measuring vacancy-type defect density in monolayer semiconductors

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted wide-spread interest due to their unique and tunable properties. Their optoelectronic, mechanical, and thermal properties are greatly influenced by crystal defects, which are, in turn, used to control these properties. However, experimental quantification of the density of defects, whether deliberately introduced or inherent, is very difficult in these atomically thin materials. Here we show that helium atom micro-diffraction can be used to measure the defect density in ~15x20um monolayer MoS2, a prototypical 2D semiconductor, quickly and easily compared to standard methods. We present a simple analytic model, the lattice gas equation, that captures the relationship between atomic Bragg diffraction intensity and defect density. The model, combined with ab initio scattering calculations, shows that our technique can immediately be applied to a wide range of 2D materials, independent of sample chemistry or structure. Additionally, wafer-scale characterization is immediately possible.

physics.app-ph

Compact Modeling of Oxide-Semiconductor, 2D Material, Carbon Nanotube, and Cryogenic Transistors with Experiment Verification

This paper presents a unified compact model for emerging transistor technologies, including oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (OSFETs), 2D material FETs (2DFETs), carbon nanotube FETs (CNFETs), and cryogenic MOSFETs. A unified charge-density formulation is developed to account for quantum confinement, trap charges, and band-tail states in channel charge calculations. A physics-based transport model is introduced to seamlessly capture carrier transport from the long-channel diffusive regime to the short-channel ballistic limit. Scaling models are incorporated to accurately describe 2D electrostatic effects. Cryogenic operation is modeled through the inclusion of band-tail states and temperature-dependent mobility and threshold voltage. The proposed model is validated against experimental data from the fabricated OSFETs with multiple channel lengths and published measurements of 2DFETs, CNFETs, and cryogenic MOSFETs. Excellent agreement is demonstrated across diverse device architectures, operating conditions, and material systems.

physics.app-ph

Multiplexing approaches to thermoradiative signatureless communications

Using mid-infrared emission from semiconductor devices for covert communications remains a relatively unexplored and yet promising opportunity. The phenomenon of negative luminescence allows for a method of signatureless covert communications where the net infrared emission of an emitting optoelectronic device is balanced to be identical to the ambient thermal background. In this work we provide a practical demonstration of covert data transfer over a thermoradiative channel with data rates up to 100 kbps. In addition, we demonstrate several additional multiplexing techniques that make the proposed thermoradiative communications method more secure against interception by achieving zero instantaneous optical emission, while remaining detectable if a sufficiently spatially or spectrally discerning observation is utilised. Finally, we discuss various application scenarios in which the proposed methods can be used to achieve secure signatureless communications.

physics.app-ph