Resonant detection and frequency multiplication of terahertz radiation utilizing plasma waves in resonant-tunneling transistors

Abstract

We propose the use of a resonant-tunneling transistor with high mobility of electrons in its quantum-well channel as a detector and a frequency multiplier of terahertz radiation and analyze its characteristics. The combination of strong nonlinearity of the resonant-tunneling current, negative differential conductivity, and excitation of plasma waves in the channel can provide higher performance of detectors and frequency multipliers based on the resonant-tunneling transistor compared to those considered previously.