Novel Fermi-level managed barrier diode for broadband and sensitive terahertz-wave detection

A novel Fermi-level managed barrier (FMB) diode was developed to enable fabrication of a broadband and low noise THz-wave detector. The fabricated quasi-optical FMB diode module could detect signals at frequencies from 200 GHz to 1 THz. The typical measured voltage sensitivity was 1020 V/W and the current sensitivity for a 50-Ω load was 4.5 A/W at 300 GHz under the zero-biased condition. Square-low detection with good linearity was confirmed at 300 GHz with an output current density of up to over 10³ A/cm².