Detecting terahertz waves with glow discharge detectors by electrical and optical methods

A glow discharge detector (GDD) was found to be an effective room temperature terahertz (THz) radiation detector. Based on the phenomenon that the incident THz radiation can increases the discharge current and the luminescent intensity of the GDD, two operation modes were investigated. The electrical method is to detect the change of discharge current, and the optical method is to detect the change of GDD luminescence caused by incident THz wave.