An efficient terahertz detector based on an optical hybrid cavity

Abstract

We demonstrate an efficient terahertz (THz) detector based on an optical hybrid cavity, which consists of an optically thin photoconductive layer between a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) and an array of electrically isolated nanoantennas. Using a combination of numerical simulations and optical experiments, we find a hybrid cavity design which absorbs >75% of incident light with a 50 nm photoconductive layer. By integrating this optical hybrid cavity design into a THz detector, we see enhanced detection sensitivity at the operation wavelength (~815 nm) over designs which do not include the nanoantenna array.