Imaging applications in the terahertz (THz) frequency range are severely restricted by diffraction. Near-field scanning probe microscopy is commonly employed to enable mapping of the THz electromagnetic fields with sub-wavelength spatial resolution, allowing intriguing scientific phenomena to be explored, such as charge carrier dynamics in nanostructures and THz plasmon-polaritons in novel 2D materials and devices. High-resolution THz imaging, so far, has relied predominantly on THz detection techniques that require either an ultrafast laser or a cryogenically cooled THz detector. Here, we demonstrate coherent near-field imaging in the THz frequency range using a room-temperature nanodetector embedded in the aperture of a near-field probe, and an interferometric optical setup driven by a THz quantum cascade laser. By performing phase-sensitive imaging of strongly confined THz fields created by plasmonic focusing, we demonstrate the potential of our novel architecture for high-sensitivity coherent THz imaging with sub-wavelength spatial resolution.

中文翻译：

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使用室温近场纳米探测器的相敏太赫兹成像

太赫兹（THz）频率范围内的成像应用受到衍射的严格限制。通常使用近场扫描探针显微镜来绘制具有亚波长空间分辨率的太赫兹电磁场，从而可以探索有趣的科学现象，例如纳米结构中的载流子动力学以及新型二维材料和器件中的太赫兹等离子体激元极化子。 。迄今为止，高分辨率太赫兹成像主要依靠太赫兹检测技术，该技术需要超快激光或低温冷却太赫兹检测器。在这里，我们演示了使用嵌入在近场探针孔径中的室温纳米探测器在THz频率范围内进行相干近场成像，以及由THz量子级联激光器驱动的干涉光学装置。