High speed antenna enhanced mid-infrared quantum cascade detector

We demonstrate a λ=10.3 μm Quantum Cascade Detector embedded in a subwavelength optical patch antenna cavity. In this structure, the responsivity is enhanced by the microcavity effect and the dark current is reduced thanks to the antenna effect. The system is used as photo-mixer in a coherent photodetection scheme. It opens the way for high sensitivity and high-speed operation and brings new perspectives for room-temperature photodetection.