Experimental realization of a metasurface-based PETS THz detector

We present the first demonstration of a metasurface-based photoelectric tunable-step (PETS) detector exploiting the inplane photoelectric effect for THz detection. We utilize a brickwork antenna structure and integrate it with a 2D electron system for efficient THz detection. All geometric parameters of the brickwork metasurface have been systematically studied using numerical finite-element simulations. Based on the developed structure, we demonstrate a detector operating at 1.9 THz using a setup with a THz quantum cascade laser. The device achieves a several times lower output resistance and a significantly higher photocurrent compared with single-antenna PETS detectors measured under the same conditions.