Photoconductive Antenna

A photoconductive antenna (PCA) is a device that generates and detects terahertz radiation using light. When ultrafast laser pulses shine on its semiconductor material, they create a brief burst of electrical charges, producing a pulse of terahertz waves—high-frequency electromagnetic signals. Conversely, it can detect terahertz waves by turning them into electrical signals when illuminated by light. PCAs are key in terahertz technology for imaging, spectroscopy, and communication, offering a compact and efficient way to generate and sense these powerful, short-wavelength signals for scientific and industrial applications.