TERAHERTZ OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GENERATING OR DETECTING TERAHERTZ ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

摘要

The invention relates to a terahertz optoelectronic device (1) that can cooperate with an electronic appliance (2) in order to generate or detecting terahertz electromagnetic waves (3), and a method for generating or detecting terahertz electromagnetic waves. The electronic appliance (2) comprises at least two remote metallic conductors (4a, 4b), and means (6, 6') for generating an electrical field or measuring an electrical current between the metallic conductors (4a, 4b). The terahertz optoelectronic device (1) comprises a light excitation source that can deliver light signals, and an optical fibre (8) comprising a first and a second end (9a, 9b). According to the invention, the terahertz optoelectronic device (1) comprises a semiconductor component (10) fixed to the second end of the optical fibre (8). The light excitation source (7) can excite the semiconductor component (10) in order to generate charge carriers therein, enabling terahertz electromagnetic waves (3) to be generated or measured when the semiconductor component is close to, or in contact with, the metallic conductors (4a, 4b), the terahertz optoelectronic device (1) being mobile in relation to the electronic appliance (2).