Optimization of the Design of Terahertz Detectors Based on Si CMOS and AlGaN/GaN Field-Effect Transistors

TeraFETs are THz power detectors based on field-effect transistors (FETs) integrated with antennas. The first part of this paper discusses the design of Si CMOS TeraFETs leading to an optimized noise-equivalent power close to the room-temperature limit. The impact of the choice of the gate width and gate length, the role of the parasitic effects associated with the technology node, and the conjugate matching of antenna and FET impedance – which is possible over narrow THz frequency bands because of the frequency dependence of the channel impedance resulting from plasmonic effects – are highlighted. Taking these aspects into account, we implement narrow-band detectors of two different designs. Using a 90-nm and a 65-nm CMOS technology, we reach a room-temperature cross-sectional NEP of 10 pW/√Hz at 0.63 THz. We then explore the optimization of AlGaN/GaN TeraFETs equipped with broadband antennae. A room-temperature optical NEP of 26 pW/√Hz is achieved around 0.5 THz despite the fact that the existence of pronounced ungated regions leads to a significant hot-electron thermoelectric DC voltage reducing the rectified signal. AlGaN/GaN TeraFETs become competitive and they have the added advantage that they are extraordinarily robust against electrostatic shock even without inclusion of protection diodes into the design.