Terahertz photonics and optoelectronics of carbon-based nanosystems

Abstract

Carbon nanosystems are among the most explored condensed matter systems in recent times owing to their extraordinary optical, electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties suitable for various applications. In the emerging field of THz science and technology, carbon nanosystems have been widely studied for different potential applications such as THz polarizer, modulator, flexible/wearable THz sources, and detectors. There have been some recent advances even on the front of THz lasing in carbon-based systems. The existing and continuously growing THz technologies demand compact, fast, broadband sources/detectors, and other high-performance devices. In this article, we provide an overview of the recent developments that are taking place on carbon nanomaterials-based THz photonic and optoelectronic device concepts and demonstrations. Later, we identify and propose a future perspective on three key areas, i.e., room temperature operatable THz lasers, a nonlinear generation and ultrashort pulsed THz source, and THz cameras, all based on carbon nanosystems, which show high scope for their realization in the near future and, hence, require more intense research.