Monte Carlo simulation of terahertz response of MSM photodetectors

Planar metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors are very attractive for many optoelectronic applications, in particular, for optical fiber communication systems, chip-to-chip connections, and optical heterodyne conversion. In this paper a 2D ensemble Monte Carlo particle method is used to simulate the MSM photodetector response. We consider planar MSM photodetectors consisting of a GaAs absorbing layer with a system of Schottky contacts made "back-to-back" on the above layer. We consider the intrinsic transient response of the MSM photodetector under the influence of a probing ultra-short light pulse generating photoelectrons and photoholes in the GaAs layer