Interaction of sub-terahertz radiation with low-doped grating-based AlGaN/GaN plasmonic structures. Time-domain spectroscopy measurements and electrodynamic modeling

We have presented the results of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy measurements and a rigorous electrodynamic modeling of the optical characteristics of grating-based AlGaN/GaN plasmonic structures with low-doped two-dimensional electrongas in the frequency range of 0.1...1.5 THz. Two samples with grating aspect ratios (strip width/period) of 2.4/3 and 1.2/1.5 μm have been investigated. The measured transmission spectra are reconstructed in the calculations with high accuracy. The transmission spectrafor p-polarized incident radiation exhibits Fabri–Pérot oscillation behavior due to theoptically-thick substrate. The specific values of amplitude and spectral position of thetransmission maxima are associated with the coupling of terahertz radiation with 2Delectron gas due to plasmon excitations. Both calculations and transmission/reflectionmeasurements demonstrate that plasmonic structures with micro-scaled metallic gratinghave three-fold increase of non-resonant absorption of terahertz radiation in comparisonwith the bare heterostructure. The polarization measurements of the transmission spectra ofthe plasmonic structures well agree with calculations and indicate a well-pronounced filtering effect of the grating for the s-component of the incident electromagnetic wave. The obtained values of the transmission for p- and s-polarized incident radiation demonstrate the high quality of deposited metallic grating with the extinction ratio higher than 80:1 for sub- and few THz frequency range

Excitation and decay of surface plasmon polaritons in n-GaN

We report on the studies of the surface plasmon polaritons in n-GaN epitaxial layers. The grating etched on the surface of the epitaxial layer is used to excite surface plasmon polaritons by means of terahertz photons. The experimental reflectivity spectrum for p-polarized radiation demonstrates a set of resonances associated with excitation of different surface plasmon polariton modes. Spectral peculiarities due to the diffraction effect have been also revealed. Emission of terahertz radiation is investigated under epilayer temperature modulation by electric current. The emissivity spectrum of the epitaxial layer with surface-relief grating shows peaks in the frequency ranges corresponding to the decay of the surface plasmon polariton modes. The characteristic features of the reflectivity and emissivity spectra are well described theoretically by a differential method with explicit integration scheme.Peer reviewe

Interaction of surface plasmon polaritons in heavily doped GaN microstructures with terahertz radiation

We present the results of experimental and theoretical studies of the surface plasmon polariton excitations in heavily doped GaN epitaxial layers. Reflection and emission of radiation in the frequency range of 2-20 THz including the Reststrahlen band were investigated for samples with grating etched on the sample surface, as well as for samples with flat surface. The reflectivity spectrum for p-polarized radiation measured for the sample with the surface-relief grating demonstrates a set of resonances associated with excitations of different surface plasmon polariton modes. Spectral peculiarities due to the diffraction effect have been also revealed. The characteristic features of the reflectivity spectrum, namely, frequencies, amplitudes, and widths of the resonance dips, are well described theoretically by a modified technique of rigorous coupled-wave analysis of Maxwell equations. The emissivity spectra of the samples were measured under epilayer temperature modulation by pulsed electric field. The emissivity spectrum of the sample with surface-relief grating shows emission peaks in the frequency ranges corresponding to the decay of the surface plasmon polariton modes. Theoretical analysis based on the blackbody-like radiation theory well describes the main peculiarities of the observed THz emission.Peer reviewe