Title :
Ultrafast photoconductive self-switching of subpicosecond electrical pulses
Author :
Holzman, J.F. ; Vermeulen, F.E. ; Elezzabi, A.Y.
Author_Institution :
Ultrafast Photonics Lab., Alberta Univ., Edmonton, Alta., Canada
Abstract :
A novel photoconductive switch is proposed. The geometry of this ultrafast switch allows the rising edge of an ultrashort optical pulse to both turn on and turn off a terahertz electrical transient, making the device independent of the substrate material and charge carrier lifetime. A lumped-element model is used to analyze the operation of the switch. The model employed describes the photoexcitation of both a microstrip photoconductive switch layout and a coplanar photoconductive switch layout. It is found that both of the layouts are capable of achieving subpicosecond switching, with the coplanar layout offering greater ease of fabrication and device tunability.
Keywords :
carrier lifetime; high-speed optical techniques; microstrip components; photoconducting switches; photoexcitation; submillimetre wave devices; transients; charge carrier lifetime; coplanar layout; coplanar photoconductive switch layout; device tunability; geometry; lumped-element model; microstrip photoconductive switch layout; photoconductive switch; photoexcitation; subpicosecond electrical pulses; subpicosecond switching; substrate material; terahertz electrical transient; ultrafast photoconductive self-switching; ultrashort optical pulse; Charge carrier lifetime; Fabrication; Geometrical optics; Microstrip; Optical materials; Optical pulses; Optical switches; Page description languages; Photoconducting materials; Photoconductivity;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
