Nowadays high frequency electronics uses two distinct families of semiconductors-based transistors: field effect transistors and heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). They compete reaching impressive cut off frequencies going up to THz range. Except their usual functions related to switching and amplifying of current or voltage both have been demonstrated as efficient direct THz radiation detectors. Indeed, both types of the transistors have shown that once equipped with antennas, they can capture THz radiation from the open space and deliver the voltage/current proportional to incoming THz radiation power (THz rectification).Most of the work was dedicated to the field effect transistors that rectify THz radiation by plasma related nonlinearities. After pioneering work of [1-2] only very small attention was devoted to HBTs. In this work, we present experimental studies of THz detection by different HBTs fabricated using InP double HBT (DHBT) technologies [3]. Different devices were investigated: single-finger devices and multi-finger devices formed using equally spaced parallel single-transistor fingers [4]. We have evaluated the room temperature detection performances of the devices in the sub-THz range from 250 GHz up to 650 GHz and analyse in details the physical mechanisms of THz detection. Finally, THz domain is an excellent non-contact probe of water content in biological tissues [5]. We also show that the sensitive HBTs detectors can be used for THz spectroscopy and 2D THz imaging to study the water dynamics of sorghum (a grass species cultivated for its grain) by monitoring the dehydration kinetics of its leaves.

We present experimental studies of THz detection by different Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors (HBTs) fabricated using InP technology. We also show that the sensitive HBTs detectors can be used for THz spectroscopy and 2D THz imaging to study how the water content affects the polarization rate and biattenuation in fibrous sorghum leaf.

We consider a terahertz detector based on a graphene ballistic rectifier integrated with an antenna. The device demonstrates an extrinsic responsivity of hundreds of V/W in the range 70-440 GHz at room temperature with no indications of a cut-off frequency up to 0.44 THz. The device also demonstrates linear response for more than 3 orders of magnitude of power input due to its zero threshold voltage and its high saturation current.

An overview of main results concerning THz detection related to plasma nonlinearities in nanometer field effect transistors is presented. In particular nonlinearity and dynamic range of these detectors are discussed. As the main result, we will show some of the first real-world applications of the FET THz detectors: demonstrators of the imager developed for fast postal security and industrial nondestructive quality control.

Recent advances in THz detection with the use of CMOS technology have shown that this option has the potential to be a leading method of producing low-cost THz sensors with integrated readout systems. This review paper, based on authors’ years of experience, presents strengths and weaknesses of this solution. The article gives examples of some hints, regarding radiation coupling and readout systems. It shows that silicon CMOS technology is well adapted to the production of inexpensive imaging systems for sub-THz frequencies. As an example paper presents the demonstrator of a multipixel Si-CMOS THz spectroscopic system allowing for chemical identification of lactose. The THz detectors embedded in this system were manufactured using the CMOS process.

A graphene ballistic rectifier is used in conjunction with an antenna to demonstrate a terahertz (THz) detector and imager. The device is used to take an image of an optically opaque object at 0.68 THz demonstrating potential in both medical and security imaging applications.

We present experimental studies of terahertz radiation detection by InP double heterojunction based transistors. We analyze the relation between their static characteristics and the experimentally determined voltage and current responsivities, showing importance of internal device parasitic capacitances and the external circuit loading effects. Finally, we demonstrate the use of these transistors for terahertz radiation computed tomography leading to 3D visualization of concealed objects. Our results pave the way towards wide use of heterojunction based transistors for terahertz imaging.