We present an experimental and theoretical study of nonresonant detection of subterahertz radiation in GaAs/AlGaAs and GaN/AlGaN heterostructure field effect transistors. The experiments were performed in a wide range of temperatures (8–300 K) and for frequencies ranging from 100 to 600 GHz. The photoresponse measured as a function of the gate voltage exhibited a maximum near the threshold voltage. The results were interpreted using a theoretical model that shows that the maximum in photoresponse can be explained by the combined effect of exponential decrease of the electron density and the gate leakage current.

We report on the experiments on resonant photoresponse of the gated two-dimensional electron gas to the terahertz radiation. The visible-light-induced, metastable increase of the carrier density in the transistor channel shifts the resonance position to the higher gate voltages, in agreement with plasma wave detection theory. In this way, an unambiguous proof of the origin of the observed resonant detection is provided. The visible light illumination also leads to an increase of the electron mobility and, as a result, to an increase of the resonant detection quality factor. Resonant detection of the harmonics of the Gunn diode-based emission system is demonstrated up to 1.2 THz.

The resonant detection of subterahertz radiation by two-dimensional electron plasma confined in a submicron gate GaAs/AlGaAs field-effect transistor is demonstrated. The results show that the critical parameter that governs the sensitivity of the resonant detection is ωτ, where ω is the radiation frequency and τ is the momentum scattering time. By lowering the temperature and hence increasing τ and increasing the detection frequency ω, we reached ωτ∼1 and observed resonant detection of 600 GHz radiation in a 0.15 μm gate length GaAs field-effect transistor. The evolution of the observed photoresponse signal with temperature and frequency is reproduced well within the framework of a theoretical model.

Coherent transition radiation in the terahertz (THz) region with energies of sub-mJ/pulse has been demonstrated by relativistic laser-driven electron beams crossing the solid-vacuum boundary.Targets including mass-limited foils and layered metal-plastic targets are used to verify the radiation mechanism and characterize the radiation properties. Observations of THz emissions as a function of target parameters agree well with the formation-zone and diffraction model of transition radiation.Particle-in-cell simulations also well reproduce the observed characteristics of THz emissions. The present THz transition radiation enables not only a potential tabletop brilliant THz source, but also a novel noninvasive diagnostic for fast electron generation and transport in laser-plasma interactions.

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