Analysis and Design of Pulsed Photoconductive Antennas

Photoconductive antennas (PCA) are widely used in contemporary THz systems, especially in terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. They are used to radiate and receive THz power. The study of the generation and reception of THz radiation involves both semiconductor theory, electromagnetics, and antenna theory. In this work, after a review of some equivalent circuits for analyzing PCAs, a novel Norton equivalent circuit model is discussed. It effectively describes the coupling between the photoconductor and the antenna. In order to increase the radiated THz power, a connected array solution of PCA is discussed. Connected arrays allow an efficient radiation of the antenna on a large bandwidth and are therefore suitable for radiating the picosecond pulses generated in the photoconductor. In order to realize a connected array of PCA, a proper biasing circuit has to be designed. Such circuit can involve the use of inductors manufactured in printed circuit board technology. Two possible designs of inductor are also discussed.

Subject

equivalent circuit
photoconductivity
THz detector
THz photoconductive antenna
THz radiated power
THz source
THz technology

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Embargo date

2020-11-16

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Student theses

Document type

master thesis

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