Generation of high-peak-power THz radiation by using diamond photoconductive antenna array

A photoconductive switch arrayed antenna with a CVD diamond film was developed for generating high-power THz wave. In this device, an electric field stress of 2/spl times/10/sup 6/ V/cm can be applied to the photoconductive gaps. This level can alleviate the present problem of saturation in THz emission using a photoconductive antenna. In an experiment using an ultra-short pulse Kr*F laser, an energy density of 10 /spl mu/J/cm/sup 2/ on the emitter surface was obtained at E=10/sup 5/ V/cm.