Terahertz radiation enhancement through use of plasmonic photomixers

We demonstrate significant enhancement in terahertz radiation power from a photomixer that incorporates plasmonic contact electrodes. The plasmonic contact electrodes reduce the average transport path of photocarriers to the contact electrodes, increasing the ultrafast photocurrent that drives the terahertz antenna. We experimentally demonstrate an order of magnitude higher radiated power from a photomixer with plasmonic contact electrodes in comparison with an analogous photomixer without plasmonic contact electrodes in the 0.25-2.5 THz frequency range.