• Photonics Research
  • Vol. 8, Issue 6, 858 (2020)
J. Hawecker1、*, V. Pistore1, A. Minasyan2, K. Maussang1、4, J. Palomo1, I. Sagnes3, J.-M. Manceau3, R. Colombelli3, J. Tignon1, J. Mangeney1, and S. S. Dhillon1
Author Affiliations
  • 1Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, F-75005 Paris, France
  • 2i2S, 28-30 rue Jean Perrin 33608 Pessac, France
  • 3Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (C2N), CNRS UMR 9001, Université Paris-Saclay, 91120 Palaiseau, France
  • 4Currently at: Institut d’Electronique et des Systèmes, CNRS (UMR 5214), Univ Montpellier, 860 rue de Saint-Priest, 34 095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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    DOI: 10.1364/PRJ.388219 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    J. Hawecker, V. Pistore, A. Minasyan, K. Maussang, J. Palomo, I. Sagnes, J.-M. Manceau, R. Colombelli, J. Tignon, J. Mangeney, S. S. Dhillon. Cavity-based photoconductive sources for real-time terahertz imaging[J]. Photonics Research, 2020, 8(6): 858 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Optically driven photoconductive switches are one of the predominant sources currently used in terahertz imaging systems. However, owing to their low average powers, only raster-based images can be taken, resulting in slow acquisition. In this work, we show that by placing a photoconductive switch within a cavity, we are able to generate absolute average THz powers of 181 μW with the frequency of the THz emission centered at 1.5 THz—specifications ideally adapted to applications such as non-destructive imaging. The cavity is based on a metal–insulator–metal structure that permits an enhancement of the average power by almost 1 order of magnitude compared to a standard structure, while conserving a broadband spectral response. We demonstrate proof-of-principle real-time imaging using this source, with the broadband spectrum permitting to eliminate strong diffraction artifacts.
    J. Hawecker, V. Pistore, A. Minasyan, K. Maussang, J. Palomo, I. Sagnes, J.-M. Manceau, R. Colombelli, J. Tignon, J. Mangeney, S. S. Dhillon. Cavity-based photoconductive sources for real-time terahertz imaging[J]. Photonics Research, 2020, 8(6): 858
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