Detection of THz radiation with semiconductor superlattices at polar-optic phonon frequencies

The nonlinear response of GaAs/AlAs superlattices to THz radiation has been analyzed over a wide frequency range (0.1 THz-15 THz), including the range of polar-optic phonon frequencies. Assuming that free electrons in a superlattice subjected to both a static and a THz field perform frequency-modulated damped Bloch oscillations, we have calculated a superlattice current responsivity, i.e., the ratio of the direct current change to the power of the incident radiation. The responsivity of superlattices has been measured in several recent experiments. An equivalent circuit taking into account the resonant properties associated with polar-optic phonons was used in a self-consistent treatment of the problem. It is shown that the responsivity is suppressed at frequencies of infrared-active, transverse polar-optic phonons due to dynamic screening of the THz field by the lattice. In contrast, the responsivity strongly increases at longitudinal polar-optic phonon frequencies due to a large enhancement of the THz field in the superlattice indicated by a longitudinal polar-optic phonon resonance, i.e., by an "anti- screening" effect. The described phenomenon can strongly influence the design and optimization of superlattice-based ultra-fast detectors for THz radiation.