Simulation of Photodetection Using FDTD Method with Application to Near-Field Subwavelength Imaging Based on Nanoscale Semiconductor Photodetector Array

Abstract

Simulation of detecting photoelectrons using FDTD method with an application to near-field subwavelength imaging based on nanoscale semiconductor photodetector array is reported. Spatial distributions for the electric field and photoelectron density have been obtained and the photocurrents from the photoelectrons have been calculated for the nanoscale photodetector array. The resolution of this novel device for subwavelenegth imaging can be achieved down to one tenth of the operating wavelength, which is comparable to commercial near-field scanning optical microscope.