Terahertz harmonic generation using a planar nanoscale unipolar diode at zero bias

The feasibility of harmonic generation in a planar nanoscale unipolar diode, called a self-switching device, is analyzed using a two-dimensional ensemble Monte Carlo method. A suitable channel width is chosen to enable a zero threshold voltage. The current-voltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics both demonstrate strong nonlinearity. It is shown that the noise of the device is below the shot noise level until about 1THz, after which two noise peaks arise. As such, a good signal-to-noise ratio can be achieved for up to six harmonics and beyond 1THz. The physical origins of the noise peaks are discussed.

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