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Terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy and imaging techniques at the nanoscale are imperative for materials research and devices detection, among others. However, conventional far-field THz time-domain spectroscopy faces inherent diffraction limits, restricting applications requiring femtosecond temporal resolution and nanoscale spatial precision for carrier dynamics analysis. We present a scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy that overcomes these constraints by combining ultrafast THz time-domain spectroscopy with AFM. The utilization of the near-field interaction between the needle's tip and the sample's surface has been demonstrated to facilitate the study of semiconductor materials and devices with static THz spectroscopy at a lateral spatial resolution of ~60 nm. This, in turn, enables the acquisition of static THz conductivity distributions of the semiconductor materials. Additionally, it facilitates the acquisition of transient conductivity distributions of semiconductor materials and laser THz emission ultrafast via photoexcited transient carrier kinetic processes. This aspect provides substantial support for the study of the performance of materials and devices in nanometer spatial resolution, ultrafast time resolution, and THz spectroscopic imaging.The experimental results show that the system has a signal-to-noise ratio as high as 56.34 dB in the static THz time-domain spectral mode, and can effectively extract the fifth-order harmonic signals covering the 0.2-2.2 THz frequency band with a spatial resolution of up to ~60 nm. Carrier excitation and complexation processes in topological insulators have been successfully observed by optical pump-THz probe with a time resolution better than 100 fs. Imaging of SRAM samples by the system reveals differences in THz scattering intensity due to non-uniformity in doping concentration, validating its potential for nanoscale defect detection.This study not only provides an innovative means for the study of nanoscale electrical characterization of semiconductor materials and devices, but also opens up new avenues for the application of THz technology in interdisciplinary subjects such as nanophotonics and spintronics. In the future, the temporal and spatial resolution and detection efficiency of the system are expected to be further improved by integrating the superlens technology, optimizing the probe design and introducing deep learning algorithms.
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Keywords:
- Terahertz electromagnetic wave /
- Scanning near-field optical microscope /
- Semiconductor materials /
- Devices
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