Coherent and incoherent terahertz beams measured from a terahertz photoconductive antenna

We have systematically measured and analyzed the terahertz beams of a photoconductive antenna fabricated on a GaAs substrate. Our data indicate that the antenna produces both coherent and incoherent terahertz beams. The former is produced largely by the plasmon, and the latter is believed to be due to the black body radiation resulting from the thermal excitations and Joule heating by both the femto-second laser and the bias voltage, applied across the electrodes of the antenna. The terahertz-beam property is greatly affected by the operating condition of the photoconductive antenna.