Fully Integrated THz Schottky Detectors Using Metallic Nanowires as Bridge Contacts

Abstract

This paper investigates fully integrated Terahertz (THz) Schottky detectors using silver (Ag) metallic nanowires (NWs) with 120 nm diameter as bridge contacts for zero-bias operating THz detectors based on highly doped Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) and Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) layers. The combination of InGaAs and metallic NWs shows improved performance at zero-bias than a GaAs based detector with a simulated capacitance of 0.5 fF and a series resistance of 29.7 Ω . Thus, the calculated maximum cut-off frequency of 2.6 THz was obtained for a NW contacted vertical InGaAs THz detector. Initial THz measurements were carried out using a common THz setup for frequencies up to 1.2 THz. A responsivity of 0.81 A/W and a low noise-equivalent power (NEP) value of 7 pW/√Hz at 1 THz were estimated using the measured IV-characteristics of the zero-bias NW-InGaAs based THz Schottky detector.