Efficient Interdigitated-Slot Photoconductive

Antenna for Terahertz Applications

Vaisshale Rathinasamy, Shriya Kapoor, Akhil Rout, T. Rama Rao, Shyamal Mondal*
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering
SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India
*shyamal.kgec@gmail.com

Abstract— GaAs based Photoconductive antennas (PCAs)
have widespread industrial uses as terahertz (THz) emitters. It
is now well known that a periodic metallic structure at the edges
of the antenna electrodes, similar to plasmonic PCAs, can
extraordinarily increase the antenna performance. Here, we
have described that Interdigitated-Slot Photoconductive
Antennas (IPCAs) can be a better THz generator than no-slot
IPCAs because of its higher screening electric field. IPCAs have
been simulated using CST MWS software. Having a teeth length
of 20 µm, width of eight µm and a slot of two µm in the center,
the reflection coefficient of -33 dB at 4.65 THz with 0.515 THz
has been achieved, whereas, with two slots around the center,
the reflection coefficient is -17 dB at 2.84 THz. The result shows
how frequency tunability and dual band radiation can be
achieved by optimization of antenna parameters. These micro
antennas may be the future of several applications.
Index Terms — Interdigitated-Slot Photoconductive Antenna,
Terahertz generation and detection, Micro-antennas
I. INTRODUCTION
Like other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, THz
technology is not closely matured; many useful applications
from materials studies to life sciences have been proposed and
many are presently in progress. The major hurdle to produce
THz radiation is to find suitable source and detector,
moreover, that should be reliable, efficient, easy to fabricate
and cost effective and portable. To get high electric THz
fields, people are mostly dependent on nonlinear frequency
mixing processes such as, difference frequency generation and
optical rectification, in nonlinear crystals (e.g. ZnSe, GaP,
LiNbO3, etc.) [1], but it needs high power ultrafast laser
sources and laboratory like controlled environment.
Therefore, to make a portable device in THz regime which can
be used anywhere for spectroscopy, imaging, communication
and other purposes, researchers are in search of alternative
solution [2]. In that respect, among the various natural and
artificial sources, photoconductive antenna (PCA) is a popular
technique for THz generation and detection [3], though it
suffers from two photon absorption in presence of high power
laser. However, with the ongoing research in PCAs, this
drawback could be overwhelmed. Furthermore, PCAs are
suitable for optical and RF applications, offer similar
characteristics of impedance matching, equivalent circuit
analysis and resonance [4]. PCAs based on these
implementations, can be easily demonstrated in terms of
lumped circuit models [5]. L Hou and W Shi [6], proposed the
effect of laser beam size on the Terahertz emission from the
antenna. The optical pulse is incident on the antenna gap (G),
spreads into the photoconductor, and initiates to create
electron-hole pairs (photocarriers) inside the photoconductor
as it is absorbed. In presence of DC bias field, the produced
photocarriers are accelerated and creates a transient
photocurrent at the metal-dielectric interface, drives the
antenna and re-emits as a THz radiation. The inverse
proportionality of laser beam size to Coulomb and radiation
screening, also plays a crucial role on the radiated spectrum.
The extensive study of PCAs design [7,8] exhibits the
dependency of the shape, size, antenna gap and materials to
obtain required THz radiation. Some of the key features of
these radiations include non-ionizing capability, penetration
through paper, clothes, plastic, absorption by water and certain
organic substances, accompanied with high chemical
sensitivity. The presence of such notable characteristics,
extends its application in medical imaging, biological sensing,
security screening, and spectroscopy applications [9-16]. M.
Imran Kazim et al. [17] used LT GaAs based interdigitated
photomixer, which provided easy fabrication and scope for
THz applications. While dealing with small bandwidths,
dipole and slot antennas containing single and dual elements
extend efficient power benefits [18].
In this paper, we have made a comparison between
interdigitated structures with and without slots. J. Made´o et
al. [19], worked with interdigitates photoconductive emitters,
by varying their electrode spacing. Consequently, they
observed a shift towards higher frequencies on decreasing the
spacing. We have observed an up-shift in frequency when the
length of the periodic metallic structure at the edges of the
antenna electrodes is more. Moreover, if the Gaussian laser
spot matches at the center slot of the PCA, reflection
coefficient is higher, hence efficient THz radiation observed.
This paper is divided in the following sections: Section II:
Antenna Circuit Analysis, Section III: Antenna Design,
Section IV: Results and Section V: Conclusion.
II. ANTENNA CIRCUIT ANALYSIS
The gap between the electrodes (2 µm) is generally smaller
than the wavelength of the generated THz waves. Hence it is
possible to model the antenna as an equivalent time varying
lumped-element circuit operating in the THz frequency range.
Fig. 1 shows the proposed equivalent circuit.
Fig.1. Equivalent Circuit for Antenna
The carrier density, electric field intensity and power
transmitted to the semiconductor can be calculated from
Drude-Lorentz model as follows [20]:

XXX-X-XXXX-XXXX-0/XX/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE

 2r 2 2  i2 t All PCAs have periodic metallic structure at the edges of the
  t   I p exp( 2
)(1  R )  i exp(  2
 ) antenna electrodes with a gap of 1 µm, teeth length (T) of 20
w0 4hf i 8Tc Tc µm and teeth-width (w) of 8 µm. Fig.2 (a) shows the simple
2t 2 i interdigitated PCA, Fig.2(b). shows two identical slots
(erf (  )  1) around the centre having slot-width (d) 2 µm and Fig.3(c)
i 4Tc
shows one centre slot in the PCA structure.
x
where, erf  x   e 
t 2
dt IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
0
The variation of various parameters, with respect to
Ip
Here ρ(t) denotes the carrier charge density, is the peak variation in PCA designs, has also been depicted in table 1.
laser intensity, R is the reflection coefficient,  i is the laser
Table 1: Comparison of various designs based on different factors
w0
pulse duration, is the beam waist radius of the Gaussian
laser. Slot parameters Gain (dBi)
Band Retur
ee  (t )
Centre
1 1  width n Loss
 Eb   Ec (t )   Ec (t )
Positi freque 5
 on ncy (THz) (dB) 4 THz
THz
dEc (t ) 1  r 

r
(THz)
dt C  ee a S  (t ) ee Z a S d  (t )  Fig. No-
 L r
Ec (t )  Ec (t )  2 (a) slot
2.075 0.765 -16.67 0.2233 2.389
 L dt  Fig.
where, C  1   ee Z a S  (t ) / L  Here  r is the carrier
Centre 4.645 0.515 -33.26 -0.6129 3.013
2 (b)
Aroun
recombination lifetime,  is the geometrical factor of the Fig.
d the 2.835 1.29 -17.07 -0.7823 3.232
2 (c)
substrate which denotes the screening factor and ε is the centre
permittivity of the substrate.
As is evident from the results, introduction of slots into
(1  R)  1 | bn(1) |2 where,R is the reflection coefficient. the teeth corresponds to a contrast in results. The conclusions
Here, while calculating the value of Ec, we assume that the are based on the graphs obtained after simulation using CST
incident laser beam is focused in the center of the electrodes, Microwave Studio Suite with Finite Difference Time Domain
as a result of which majority of the carriers are generated (FDTD) solver. Use of GaAs as a substrate material offers
around the middle of the structure. Hence the effect of the multiple benefits (over Silicon) inclusive of high flexibility,
extremes of the electrode can be neglected in lieu of greater resistance to moisture, high efficiency, etc. A highly
simplification [21]. conducting material, Silver, has been employed for the metal
layer. Fig. 3. Depict the reflection coefficient from all PCAs.
III. ANTENNA DESIGN We can observe that having a slot in the centre can enhance
Our research constitutes a systematic comparison the THz radiation whereas two slots around the centre gives
between three different PCA designs, as shown in fig.2. All the flexibility to tune the centre frequency and the bandwidth.
the PCAs are having LT-GaAs substrate of (length X width
X thickness) 300x300x3 µm and planner Ag electrodes of 1 Fig.4-10, depict the far-field gain of all the designs for 4
µm thick. and 5 THz. It is observed that the gain is maximum between
4 to 5 THz which is matching with the Fig. 3 curves.

(a) (b)

d w
L1
Fig.3 Combined Return loss analysis for all the designs

L2
(c)
Fig.2 a) PCA having no-slot, (b) PCa having two slots around the centre and
(c) PCA having one slot at the centre

Fig.4 Far-field Gain for no-slot PCA at 4THz
Fig.5 Far-field Gain for 20µm teeth antenna at 5THz
Fig.6 Farfield Gain for centre-slot antenna at 4THz
Fig.7 Far-field Gain for 1 slot antenna at 5THz
Fig.8 Far-field Gain for 2 slot antenna at 4THz
Fig.10 Far-field Gain for two slots antenna at 5THz
V. CONCLUSIONS
The variation in number of teeth followed by number of
slots, provided some interesting results. The addition of a
centre-slot increased the center frequency to 4.645THz and
return loss to -33.26 dB. If two slots are added around the
centre, the center frequency reduces to 2.695THz and return
loss becomes -17 dB.
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