We demonstrate a mechanism of efficiently transforming surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) into Cherenkov terahertz (THz) radiation. In a structure where multilayer graphene is deposited on a dielectric substrate with a buffer layer, the energy of the SPPs can be significantly enhanced. The dispersion of SPPs crosses the light line of the substrate if the buffer layer has a low permittivity relative to the substrate. As a result, the SPPs can be readily transformed into radiation without the need of wavevector compensation. Compared to the radiation from structures without graphene, the radiation power density is enhanced by nearly three orders of magnitude due to the field enhancement of SPPs. Our results could provide a promising way for developing room temperature, tunable, coherent, and intense THz radiation sources to cover the entire THz regime.
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5 June 2017
Research Article|
June 06 2017
Cherenkov terahertz radiation from graphene surface plasmon polaritons excited by an electron beam
Tao Zhao;
Tao Zhao
1
Terahertz Research Center, School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
2
Cooperative Innovation Centre of Terahertz Science
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
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Min Hu
;
Min Hu
1
Terahertz Research Center, School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
2
Cooperative Innovation Centre of Terahertz Science
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
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Renbin Zhong;
Renbin Zhong
1
Terahertz Research Center, School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
2
Cooperative Innovation Centre of Terahertz Science
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
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Sen Gong;
Sen Gong
1
Terahertz Research Center, School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
2
Cooperative Innovation Centre of Terahertz Science
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
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Chao Zhang
;
Chao Zhang
2
Cooperative Innovation Centre of Terahertz Science
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
3
School of Physics and Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong
, New South Wales 2522, Australia
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Shenggang Liu
Shenggang Liu
1
Terahertz Research Center, School of Physical Electronics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
2
Cooperative Innovation Centre of Terahertz Science
, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China
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Appl. Phys. Lett. 110, 231102 (2017)
Article history
Received:
March 30 2017
Accepted:
May 23 2017
Citation
Tao Zhao, Min Hu, Renbin Zhong, Sen Gong, Chao Zhang, Shenggang Liu; Cherenkov terahertz radiation from graphene surface plasmon polaritons excited by an electron beam. Appl. Phys. Lett. 5 June 2017; 110 (23): 231102. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4984961
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