6G and beyond: Investigation of broadband terahertz interdigitated photoconductive antenna by exploiting laser parameters

Abstract

Photoconductive Antennas (PCA) are widely used for terahertz (THz) generation and detection. These PCAs build the basis for future 6G communication as they provide a high data rate and broad bandwidth. In this work, interdigitated photoconductive antenna (IPCA) has been designed and optimized for better performance in terms of THz radiation. The proposed IPCA is made of LT-GaAs substrate material deposited on SI-GaAs. Silver material has been assumed for the IPCA electrode structure. Moreover, the dependence of IPCA on the incident laser parameters such as its wavelength (λ = 800, 1060, and 1550 nm) and pulse duration (100-500 fs) has been investigated theoretically for different teeth widths (W e = 500, 100, 50, and 20 nm). The performance of the IPCA with various parameters such as average carrier density, conductance, total photocurrent, THz radiated power, and electric field strength, has been analyzed. The results show maximum THz electric field strength of 20.85 V/m for a photo-generated current of 1.887 A and enormous bandwidth beyond 14.9 THz with 20 nm teeth-width-based IPCA when illuminated with 100 fs 800 nm laser pulses. The proposed IPCA structure provides enhanced THz radiation compared to conventional PCA. This investigation helps the researchers to develop and integrate IPCA for future wireless communications as well as for a variety of applications, such as time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), medical imaging, sensing, and security-related applications.

Performance analysis of slotted rectangular photonic crystal fiber structures in terahertz waveguidance

“…However, distortion and attenuation are likely very high due to absorption by air molecules in wireless communication, leaving scope for long-distance THz communication. 3,4 Like conventional fibers/waveguides in optical communication, guided medium-like structures are needed for long-distance THz communication. Since last decade, the microstructured optical waveguides, namely, photonic crystal fibers (PCFs), 5 have been receiving more attention in THz transmission.…”

“…For all the applications mentioned earlier, signals are transmitted only through the wireless medium, i.e., either through vacuum or air. However, distortion and attenuation are likely very high due to absorption by air molecules in wireless communication, leaving scope for long-distance THz communication 3 , 4 …”