Modelling the carrier dynamics of semiconductors to understand their terahertz emission (Conference Presentation)

Enrique Castro-Camus; Mariana Alfaro-Gomez; Sofia C. Corzo-Garcia; Arturo I. Hernandez-Serrano; Oleg Mitrofanov

doi:10.1117/12.2321155

18 September 2018 Modelling the carrier dynamics of semiconductors to understand their terahertz emission (Conference Presentation)

Enrique Castro-Camus, Mariana Alfaro-Gomez, Sofia C. Corzo-Garcia, Arturo I. Hernandez-Serrano, Oleg Mitrofanov

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10756, Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications IX; 107560B (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2321155
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2018, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We use a Monte-Carlo model to simulate semi-classical photo-carrier dynamics on bulk InAs, InGaAs and GaAs that leads to terahertz emission after ultrafast photoexcitation. This detailed model has allowed us to understand various aspects of the THz emission process, including the near-field distribution which has been experimentally observed, the role of the excess excitation photon energy, and the relative importance of the surface field driven, diffusive (photo-Dember) and ballistic currents. In order to understand the near-field emission we coupled a finite-difference time-domain routine to the carrier dynamics simulation, by doing this, we were able to analyse the near terahertz field emission caused by the motion of such carriers even when the excitation is performed at normal incidence. We found that both the current parallel, which has traditionally been assumed not to take part in the emission, and normal to the interface take a relevant role in the terahertz generation. We performed another set of simulations for different bandgaps and excitation-photon energies in order to compare the emission power of all three semiconductors as function of excitation photon energy finding that the carrier excess excitation energy is more relevant to explain their performance difference than their motilities. We conclude that ballistic transport after photoexcitation is the dominant mechanism for terahertz emission instead of diffusion driven or surface field driven charge separation, which were traditionally considered the most relevant mechanisms.

Conference Presentation

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Enrique Castro-Camus, Mariana Alfaro-Gomez, Sofia C. Corzo-Garcia, Arturo I. Hernandez-Serrano, and Oleg Mitrofanov "Modelling the carrier dynamics of semiconductors to understand their terahertz emission (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 10756, Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications IX, 107560B (18 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2321155

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KEYWORDS

Carrier dynamics

Semiconductors

Modeling

Monte Carlo methods

Near field

Gallium arsenide

Indium arsenide

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