Terahertz Wave Emission from Intrinsic Josephson Junctions in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

Abstract

We have studied the conditions for the THz radiation in many systems with different shapes and dimensions such as rectangles, squares, cylinders and (equilateral and isosceles including right-angled isosceles) triangles and rectangles with non-uniform width (asymmetric rectangles) fabricated from single crystals of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ, which are known as a typical intrinsic Josephson junction system. As a result two conditions have been deduced to be fulfilled: one is the ac-Josephson effect always working at each intrinsic Josephson junction. Another one is the standing wave formation of the THz waves excited inside the mesa due to the cavity resonance for the radiation. The former condition is always necessary for the radiation but the latter may have only the secondary role for the radiation because the Q-value of the resonance cavity in some cases seems to be quite low and of order of unity. Therefore, the radiation frequency can be controlled by the voltage effectively and widely varied by the ac-Josephson effect only. In addition, we show a new phenomenon observed at high current region and a comprehensive physical picture for the extraordinary THz radiation phenomenon is given.