Ratchet effect -- a {it dc} current induced by the electromagnetic wave impinging on the spatially modulated two-dimensional (2D) electron liquid -- occurs when the wave amplitude is spatially modulated with the same wave vector as the 2D liquid but
is shifted in phase. The analysis within the framework of the hydrodynamic model shows that the ratchet current is dramatically enhanced in the vicinity of the plasmonic resonances and has nontrivial polarization dependence. In particular, for circular polarization, the current component, perpendicular to the modulation direction, changes sign with the inversion of the radiation helicity. Remarkably, in the high-mobility structures, this component might be much larger than the the current component in the modulation direction. We also discuss the non-resonant regime realized in dirty systems, where the plasma resonances are suppressed, and demonstrate that the non-resonant ratchet current is controlled by the Maxwell relaxation in the 2D liquid.
We present estimates of the performance limits of terahertz detectors based on the field effect transistors (FET) in the regime of broadband detection. The maximal responsivity is predicted for short-channel FETs in the subthreshold regime. We also c
alculate the conversion efficiency Q of the device defined as the ratio of the power dissipated by radiation-induced dc current to the THz dissipated power. We show that Q has an absolute maximum as a function of two variables: the power and the frequency of the incoming radiation. The maximal value of Q is on the order of 10%
