Spectral characterization of broadband THz antennas by photoconductive mixing: toward optimal antenna design

The spectral characterization of a broadband antenna using a pump-probe photomixing continuous-wave (CW) terahertz (THz) system is presented. The high dynamic range of the system, comparable to or better than that of similar pump-probe systems reported in the literature, provides an accurate means of antenna characterization. The planar antenna exhibits a log-periodic behavior at low frequencies, a bow-tie behavior at high frequencies, and a resonance characteristic in between, well in agreement with the antenna geometry. It is predicted that an improved geometry that extends the log-periodic behavior to higher frequencies would contribute significantly in enhancing the broadband performance of antenna-coupled photomixers.