Terahertz generation and detection through gain-enhanced interband photomixing in quantum well structures

Abstract

Terahertz waves hold immense potential across diverse fields, including healthcare monitoring, biomedical imaging, precision navigation, high-speed communication, security screening, industrial quality control, and space exploration. However, the widespread adoption of terahertz technology has been hindered by the bulky, complex, and costly nature of existing systems. Here, we demonstrate gain-enhanced interband photomixing in quantum well (QW) PIN photodiodes as an efficient mechanism for frequency-tunable terahertz generation and detection, achieving significant improvements in power efficiency and sensitivity over the state-of-the-art. QWs embedded in PIN photodiodes—key elements of commercially available photonic integrated circuits (PICs)—enable monolithic integration of lasers, semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), modulators, filters, demultiplexers, and other passive optical components. By establishing QW PIN photodiodes as the foundation of a Monolithically Integrated Terahertz Optoelectronic (MITO) platform, this work paves the way for compact, scalable terahertz optoelectronic systems with applications in high-speed data transfer, spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging. This advancement positions terahertz technology for widespread use, facilitating practical applications across remote sensing, communications, and medical diagnostics within portable devices.