Terahertz waveguide spectroscopy of two-dimensional plasmons in GaAs

The electrical characteristics of high-mobility, two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) systems, such as GaAs quantum wells, have been well-studied at low frequencies and in extreme conditions of high magnetic fields and ultralow temperatures. While high-frequency excitations of 2DEGs have been examined to some extent from microwave to terahertz (THz) frequencies, a fundamental understanding of the physical properties of 2DEGs in this range have by no means been mastered. To address this matter, this thesis focused on studying a fundamental, high-frequency collective excitation, known as the plasmon, to better understand plasmon damping and coupling mechanisms in GaAs quantum well 2DEGs. The experiments utilized THz waveguide spectroscopy to study the low-temperature behavior of 2D plasmons.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Harris, C. Thomas (Charles Thomas)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rajeev J. Ram.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/62452

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/62452