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Seo M, Kang JH, Kim HS, Hyong Cho J, Choi J, Min Jhon Y, Lee S, Hun Kim J, Lee T, Park QH, Kim C. Observation of terahertz-radiation-induced ionization in a single nano island. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10280. [PMID: 25998840 PMCID: PMC4441136 DOI: 10.1038/srep10280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Terahertz (THz) electromagnetic wave has been widely used as a spectroscopic probe to detect the collective vibrational mode in vast molecular systems and investigate dielectric properties of various materials. Recent technological advances in generating intense THz radiation and the emergence of THz plasmonics operating with nanoscale structures have opened up new pathways toward THz applications. Here, we present a new opportunity in engineering the state of matter at the atomic scale using THz wave and a metallic nanostructure. We show that a medium strength THz radiation of 22 kV/cm can induce ionization of ambient carbon atoms through interaction with a metallic nanostructure. The prepared structure, made of a nano slot antenna and a nano island located at the center, acts as a nanogap capacitor and enhances the local electric field by two orders of magnitudes thereby causing the ionization of ambient carbon atoms. Ionization and accumulation of carbon atoms are also observed through the change of the resonant condition of the nano slot antenna and the shift of the characteristic mode in the spectrum of the transmitted THz waves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minah Seo
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hun Kang
- Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Suk Kim
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Hyong Cho
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaebin Choi
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Min Jhon
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Lee
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hun Kim
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Taikjin Lee
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Q-Han Park
- Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Chulki Kim
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
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