Laser induced Semiconductor Switches (LSS), comprised of a gap antenna deposited on a semiconductor substrate and
photoexcited by a pulsed laser, are the primary source of THz radiation utilized in time-domain spectroscopy (TDS).
THz-TDS applications such as standoff detection and imaging would greatly benefit from greater amounts of power
coupled into free space radiation from these sources. The most common LSS device is based on low temperature-grown
(LT) GaAs photoexcited by Ti:sapphire lasers, but its power performance is fundamentally limited by low breakdown
voltage. By contrast, wide band-gap semiconductor-based LSS devices have much higher breakdown voltage and could
provide higher radiant power efficiency but must be photoexcited blue or ultraviolet pulsed lasers. Here we report an
experimental and theoretical study of 10 wide band-gap semiconductor LSS host materials: traditional semiconductors
GaN, SiC, and ZnO, both pristine and with various dopants and alloys, including ternary and quaternary materials
MgZnO and InGaZnO. The objective of this study was to identify the wide bandgap hosts with the greatest promise for
LSS devices and compare their performance with LT-GaAs. From this effort three materials, Fe:GaN, MgZnO and
Te:ZnO, were identified as having great potential as LSS devices because of their band-gap coincidence with frequency
multiplied Ti:Sapphire lasers, increased thermal conductivity and higher breakdown voltage compared to LT-GaAs, as
well as picoseconds scale recombination times.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.