Studies on the mechanisms of powerful terahertz radiations from laser plasmas

A survey on the mechanisms of powerful terahertz (THz) radiation from laser plasmas is presented.Firstly,an analytical model is described,showing that a transverse net current formed in a plasma can be converted into THz radiations at the plasma oscillation frequency.This theory is applied to explain THz generation in a gas driven by two-color laser pulses.It is also applied to THz generation in a tenuous plasma driven by a chirped laser pulse,a few-cycle laser pulse,a DC/AC bias electric field.These are well verified by particle-in-cell simulations,demonstrating that THz radiations produced in these approaches are nearly single-cycles and linear polarized.In the chirped laser scheme and the few-cycle laser scheme,THz radiations with the peak field strength of tens of MV/cm and the peak power of gigawatt can be achieved with the incident laser intensity less than 10 17 W/cm 2.     

圆偏振激光脉冲附加静电场或太赫兹场时H2+高次谐波产生

本文通过数值求解二维含时薛定谔方程理论的研究了圆偏振激光脉冲(circularly polarized laser pulse, CPLP)作用下H2+的高次谐波产生(high-order harmonic generation, HHG)。通过对比CPLP附加静电场和CPLP附加太赫兹场(terahertz, THz)时的高次谐波发射谱发现,当在CPLP的方向附加静电场时,谐波谱出现双平台结构,且布满调制,通过电子波包概率分布图像发现,电子三次与母核复合,量子轨道之间产生了较严重的干涉。当附加相同强度的THz场时,电子仅两次与母核复合,量子轨道之间的干涉减少,最终得到了86eV到208eV带宽为122eV的连续谱,相比于附加静电场,谐波谱变得连续且平滑,实现了量子轨道调控。最后,利用半经典三步模型、时频分析和电离几率等对谐波发射物理机制进行了深入研究。     

THz Radiation Generation via the Interaction of Ultra‐short Laser Pulses with the Molecular Hydrogen Plasma

In this paper, a two dimensional Particle In Cell‐Monte Carlo Collision simulation scheme is used to examine the THz generation via the interaction of high intensity ultra‐short laser pulses with an underdense molecular hydrogen plasma slab. The influences of plasma density, laser pulse duration and its intensity on the induced plasma current density and the subsequent effects on the generated THz signal characteristics are studied. It is observed that the induced current density in the plasma medium and THz spectral intensity are increased at the higher laser pulse intensities, laser pulse durations and plasma densities. Moreover, the generated THz electric field amplitude is reduced at the higher laser pulse durations. A wider frequency range for the generated THz signal is shown at the lower laser pulse durations and higher plasma densities. Additionally, it is found that the induced current density in hydrogen plasma medium is the dominant factor influencing the generation of THz pulse radiation. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effects of the evolution of two cross‐focused Gaussian laser beams on the terahertz generation in thermal collisional plasma

Generation of the terahertz (THz) radiation based on the beating of two cross‐focused high intensity Gaussian laser beams in a warm rippled density plasma is numerically investigated, taking into account the ponderomotive force, Ohmic heating, and collisional nonlinearities. The beat ponderomotive force as a result of cross‐focusing of beams induces a vertical velocity component that by coupling with the rippled density gives rise to a nonlinear current deriving THz radiation. The effect of laser beams spot size evolution and plasma parameters on the THz generation is studied. It was found that there exist special electron temperature and laser intensity ranges with “turning points” where the generation of THz radiation reaches its maximum value and outside of these ranges, it disappears. The results also indicated that increasing the background electron density as well as taking into account the collision frequency help THz generation. Moreover, the maximum yield of THz radiation occurs when the beat wave frequency approaches the plasma frequency.     

Terahertz applications of carbon nanotubes

We formulate and justify several proposals utilizing unique electronic properties of carbon nanotubes for a broad range of applications to THz optoelectronics, including THz generation by hot electrons in quasi-metallic nanotubes, frequency multiplication in chiral-nanotube-based superlattices controlled by a transverse electric field, and THz radiation detection and emission by armchair nanotubes in a strong magnetic field.     

Terahertz emission in tenuous gases irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses

Mechanism of terahertz (THz) pulse generation in gases irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses is investigated theoretically. Quasi-static transverse currents produced by laser field ionization of gases and the longitudinal modulation in formed plasmas are responsible for the THz emission at the electron plasma frequency, as demonstrated by particle-in-cell simulations including field ionization. The THz field amplitude scaling with the laser amplitude within a large range is also discussed.     

Terahertz emission in tenuous gases irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses

Mechanism of terahertz (THz) pulse generation in gases irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses is investigated theoretically. Quasi-static transverse currents produced by laser field ionization of gases and the longitudinal modulation in formed plasmas are responsible for the THz emission at the electron plasma frequency, as demonstrated by particle-in-cell simulations including field ionization. The THz field amplitude scaling with the laser amplitude within a large range is also discussed.     

低密等离子体通道中的非共振激光直接加速

在低密等离子体通道中, 横向有质动力可以有效调制电子的横向振荡过程. 一方面, 横向有质动力可以向外推动电子, 增大电子横向振荡振幅, 减小失相率, 使电子获得能量增益; 另一方面, 横向有质动力也可以通过对失相率的非线性调制来降低失相率, 在电子横向振荡振幅很小的情况下导致激光直接加速. 横向有质动力调制的大小由等离子体密度、激光强度和束宽共同决定. 三维模型结果也证实可以通过参数放大实现激光直接加速, 弥补了准二维模型的局限性.     

High-order harmonic generation in a tightly focused laser beam

The force due to the transverse magnetic field of a laser beam drives an electron in the direction of laser propagation, thereby impeding the recollision mechanism for high-order harmonic generation. The longitudinal electric field component of a tightly focused Gaussian beam can sufficiently counteract the magnetic force to enhance the harmonic yield substantially. For tight focusing and a laser intensity of 10(18) W/cm2, it can raise the harmonic yield by several orders of magnitude.     

Generation of THz Radiation from Laser Beam Filamentation in a Magnetized Plasma

The terahertz (THz) frequency radiation production as a result of nonlinear interaction of high intense laser beam with low density ripple in a magnetized plasma has been studied. If the appropriate phase matching conditions are satisfied and the frequency of the ripple is appropriate then this difference frequency can be brought in the THz range. Self focusing (filamentation) of a circularly polarized beam propagating along the direction of static magnetic field in plasma is first investigated within extended‐paraxial ray approximation. The beam gets focused when the initial power of the laser beam is greater than its critical power. Resulting localized beam couples with the pre‐existing density ripple to produce a nonlinear current driving the THz radiation. By changing the strength of the magnetic field, one can enhance or suppress the THz emission. The expressions for the laser beam width parameter, the electric field vector of the THz wave have been obtained. For typical laser beam and plasma parameters with the incident laser intensity ≈ 10¹⁴ W/cm², laser beam radius (r₀) = 50 μm, laser frequency (ω₀) = 1.8848 × 10¹⁴rad/s, electron plasma (low density rippled) wave frequency (ω₀) = 1.2848 × 10¹⁴ rad/s, plasma density (n₀) = 5.025 × 10¹⁷cm^–3, normalized ripple density amplitude (μ)=0.1, the produced THz emission can be at the level of Giga watt (GW) in power (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Theoretical investigation of tunable polarized broadband terahertz radiation from magnetized gas plasma

The mechanism of terahertz(THz) pulse generation with a static magnetic field imposed on a gas plasma is theoretically investigated. The investigation demonstrates that the static magnetic field alters the electron motion during the optical field ionization of gas, leading to a two-dimensional asymmetric acceleration process of the ionized electrons. Simulation results reveal that elliptically or circularly polarized broadband THz radiation can be generated with an external static magnetic field imposed along the propagation direction of the two-color laser. The polarization of the THz radiation can be tuned by the strength of the external static magnetic field.     

Terahertz radiation generation by beating of two chirped laser pulses in a warm collisional magnetized plasma

Analytical equations of terahertz(THz) radiation generation based on beating of two laser beams in a warm collisional magnetized plasma with a ripple density profile are developed. In this regard, the effects of frequency chirp on the field amplitude of the terahertz radiation as well as the temperature and collision parameters are investigated. The ponderomotive force is generated in the frequency chirp of beams. Resonant excitation depends on tuning of the plasma beat frequency,magnetic field frequency, thermal velocity, collisional frequency, and effect of the frequency chirp with the plasma density.For optimum parameters of frequency and temperature the maximum THz amplitude is obtained.     

Generation of an isolated sub-30 attosecond pulse in a two-color laser field and a static electric field

We theoretically investigate high-order harmonic generation(HHG) from a helium ion model in a two-color laser field,which is synthesized by a fundamental pulse and its second harmonic pulse.It is shown that a supercontinuum spectrum can be generated in the two-color field.However,the spectral intensity is very low,limiting the application of the generated attosecond(as) pulse.By adding a static electric field to the synthesized two-color field,not only is the ionization yield of electrons contributing to the harmonic emission remarkably increased,but also the quantum paths of the HHG can be significantly modulated.As a result,the extension and enhancement of the supercontinuum spectrum are achieved,producing an intense isolated 26-as pulse with a bandwidth of about 170.5 eV.In particular,we also analyse the influence of the laser parameters on the ultrabroad supercontinuum spectrum and isolated sub-30-as pulse generation.     

Beat excitation of terahertz radiation in a semiconductor slab in a magnetic field

Two infrared lasers of frequencies ω₁ and ω₂ propagating in the TM/TE mode along $\stackrel{?}{z}$ direction in a rippled density semiconductor waveguide are shown to resonantly excite terahertz radiation at the beat frequency when ripple wave number is suitably chosen to satisfy the phase matching. The wave vector of the density ripple is along the direction of laser propagation while a static magnetic field is applied transverse to it. The lasers exert a ponderomotive force on the electrons at the beat frequency. This force, in the presence of density ripple and transverse magnetic field, produces a nonlinear current at the terahertz frequency. The magnetic field enhances the amplitude of the terahertz wave. However terahertz yield is significantly higher in the TM mode laser beating than in the TE mode laser beating.     

Suppression for the Low spatial frequency Rings and Ripples of Laser Near field Intensity Distribution in the Spatial Filter Used in ICF Laser DriveSupported by the key project of the National Science Foundation, National Hi Tech Foundation.

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Simulation of THz emission from laser interaction with plasmas

One-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) program is used to simulate the generation of high power terahertz (THz) emission from the interaction of an ultrashort intense laser pulse with underdense plasma. The spectra of THz radiation are discussed under different laser intensity, pulse width, incident angle and density scale length. High-amplitude electron plasma wave driven by a laser wakefield can produce powerful THz emission through linear mode conversion under certain conditions. With incident laser intensity of 10¹⁸ W/cm², the generated emission is computed to be of the order of several MV/cm field and tens of MW level power. The corresponding energy conversion efficiency is several ten thousandths, which is higher then the efficiency of other THz source and suitable for the studies of THz nonlinear physics.     

Intense laser beam guiding in self-induced electron cavitation channel in underdense plasmas

In underdense plasmas, the transverse ponderomotive force of an intense laser beam with Gaussian transverse profile expels electrons radially, and it can lead to an electron cavitation. An improved cavitation model with charge conservation constraint is applied to the determination of the width of the electron cavity. The envelope equation for laser spot size derived by using source-dependent expansion method is extended to including the electron cavity. The condition for self-guiding is given and illuminated by an effective potential for the laser spot size. The effects of the laser power, plasma density and energy dissipation on the self-guiding condition are discussed.     

Second harmonic generation of a self-focused Hermite-Gaussian laser in plasma

Second harmonic generation (SHG) using intense Hermite-Gaussian laser beam (HGLB) propagating through the plasma for mode-indices m = 0 and m = 1 is reported in the present work. Ponderomotive force induced density perturbation beats with the oscillatory velocity of electrons at incident laser frequency, generate the second harmonic nonlinear current that give rise to SHG. Using paraxial approximations, we have derived the coupled equations for the beam width parameter of HGLB and second harmonic's normalized amplitude. Resonance condition is obtained by considering wiggler magnetic field which providing an extra momentum to the second harmonic photon and this result a significant increase in the amplitude of SHG. Our analysis shows the prominent rise in normalized amplitude of second harmonic on increasing the value of the intensity of fundamental laser pulse, normalized wiggler magnetic field and normalized density of plasma. It is notified that the gain of SHG is more prominent for m = 1. Dependency of laser and plasma parameters on SHG is also reported in the current work.     

飞秒强激光作用下线性等离子体层中光场和电子密度的自洽分布

自洽求解了圆偏振的飞秒强激光作用下线性等离子体层中光场和电子密度的分布.研究发现在激光有质动力的作用下，电子密度分布严重偏离离子密度分布，甚至出现了一系列的“电子岛”和“电子空腔”.由于电荷分离，等离子体内形成了很强的静电场，一部分激光能量转化为等离子体内的静电能.线性等离子体层储存静电能的大小随着入射激光强度的增加而显著上升. 关键词： 飞秒激光 相对论等离子体 电子密度 有质动力     

激光与固体靶相互作用中低密度预等离子体对高能电子产生的影响

 对线极化、圆极化的超短超强激光脉冲与靶前有一段低密度预等离子体的固体靶的相互作用进行了理论和粒子模拟研究。激光通过有质动力加速机制加速预等离子体中的电子，研究了电子获得的最大能量随激光强度和预等离子体密度的变化。当激光脉冲与靶直接作用时，靶中的电子由于J×B机制而得到加速，所获得的能量比预等离子体中电子低。研究表明，在超短超强激光脉冲与固体靶相互作用中，预等离子体的存在有利于高能电子的产生。