Current responsivity of semiconductor superlattice THz-photon detectors

Abstract

A self-consistent superlattice current responsivity theory was developed to describe the electron motion of a superlattice THz-photon detectors using an equivalent circuit model. The results identified the excitation of the plasma-Bloch oscillations in the region of positive differential conductance of the superlattice. The oscillations give rise to a resonant-like dependence of the responsivity on the incident radiation frequency, improving the coupling of the superlattice to the detector antenna.