Device Concepts for Graphene-Based Terahertz Photonics

Graphene is establishing itself as a new photonic material with huge potential in a variety of applications ranging from transparent electrodes in displays and photovoltaic modules to saturable absorber in mode-locked lasers. Its peculiar bandstructure and electron transport characteristics naturally suggest graphene could also form the basis for a new generation of high-performance devices operating in the terahertz (THz) range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The region between 300 GHz and 10 THz is in fact still characterized by a lack of efficient, compact, solid state photonic components capable of operating well at 300 K. Recent works have already shown very promising results in the development of high-speed modulators as well as of bolometer and plasma-wave detectors. Furthermore, several concepts have been proposed aiming at the realization of lasers and oscillators. This paper will review the latest achievements in graphene-based THz photonics and discuss future perspectives of this rapidly developing research field. © 2013 IEEE.