Terahertz Generation by a Resonant Photoconductive Antenna

In this study, we investigate terahertz (THz) generation by a photoconductive antenna with electrodes in the shape of split-ring resonators. According to our theoretical investigation based on a lumped-circuit model, the inductance of this electrode structure leads to resonant behavior of the photo-induced current. Hence, near the resonance frequency the spectral components generated by a resonant photoconductive antenna can be greater than those produced by a non-resonant one. For experimental verification, a resonant photoconductive antenna, which possesses a resonance mode at 0.6 THz, and a non-resonant photoconductive antenna with stripe-shaped electrodes were fabricated on a semi-insulating GaAs substrate. The THz generation by both of the photoconductive antennas demonstrated a good agreement with the theoretically expected results. The observed relationship between the resonant electrodes of the photoconductive antenna and the generated THz spectrum can be further employed to design a narrow-band THz source with an on-demand frequency.