Generation of terahertz radiation by optical excitation of aligned carbon nanotubes.

Titova, Lyubov V; Pint, Cary L; Zhang, Qi; Hauge, Robert H; Kono, Junichiro; Hegmann, Frank A · Nano Lett · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We have generated coherent pulses of terahertz radiation from macroscopic arrays of aligned single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) excited by femtosecond optical pulses without externally applied bias. The generated terahertz radiation is polarized along the SWCNT alignment direction. We propose that top-bottom asymmetry in the SWCNT arrays produces a built-in electric field in semiconducting SWCNTs, which enables generation of polarized terahertz radiation by a transient photocurrent surge directed along the nanotube axis.