Efficiency of submillimeter-wave generation and amplification by coherent wave-packet oscillations in semiconductor structures

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Abstract
We discuss the emission of submillimeter waves from optically excited coherent wave-packet oscillations in quantum-well structures in terms of the emitted power. The material dynamics are treated in a two-band real-space density-matrix approach; the radiation process, by conventional antenna theory. Excitation geometries that assist cooperative radiation from all points of the excited spot are proposed. We consider amplification by phase-locked feedback of the terahertz wave to the emitter in a resonator. Our results lead to concepts for optimized power extraction from coherent terahertz sources.