Recent progress on terahertz generation based on difference frequency generation:from power scaling to compact and portable sources

The progress achieved on power scaling and compact and portable THz sources is reviewed.By reversely stacking the GaP plates,the photon conversion efficiency is improved from 25% to 40% which corresponds to the maximum value.When the number of the plates is increased from four to five,the output power decreases because of back conversion.The THz generation is also investigated by mixing the two frequencies generated by a single Nd:YLF solid-state laser.The average output power reaches 1 μW.The introduction of two Nd:YLF crystals significantly improves the output power to 4.5 μW.This configuration facilitates the generation of different output frequencies.     

Compact and widely tunable terahertz source based on a dual-wavelength intracavity optical parametric oscillation

In this paper, a continuously tunable terahertz (THz) source is obtained using a compact intracavity pumped dual-wavelength optical parametric oscillation operating around 2.1 μm as difference-frequency generation pump source. The tuning range of the THz-wave frequency covers from 0.147 THz to 3.651 THz. Based on the collinear difference-frequency generation in the GaSe crystal, the experiment result shows that our schematic is a good option to construct a compact and portable terahertz source with widely tunable range.     

基于600—2000 nm抽运源的太赫兹相干光源的最新进展

最近几年,紧凑型、便携式、低廉、可调谐的太赫兹波源由于具有广泛的应用前景因而成为太赫兹领域的研究焦点.波长为600—2000 nm范围的近红外光源由于具有体积紧凑、价格低廉、频率可调谐和工作稳定的特点,所以频繁被选为太赫兹波产生的抽运源.本文着重从双波长可调谐抽运源、内腔光参量振荡器太赫兹发生器两个方面进行了较系统的阐述.分析表明,近红外相对中红外双波长抽运光源由于具有更紧凑的结构而成为研究热点;差频和非线性级联过程由于具有调谐范围宽的特点而成为产生太赫兹辐射的重要手段. 关键词： 太赫兹辐射 近红外波段 调谐宽度 非线性级联过程     

Compact and high-power broadband terahertz source based on femtosecond photonic crystal fiber amplifier

We present a review of the development of a compact and high-power broadband terahertz (THz) source optically excited by a femtosecond photonic crystal fiber (PCF) amplifier.The large mode area of the PCF and the stretcher-free configuration make the pump source compact and very efficient.Broadband THz pulses of 150 μW extending from 0.1 to 3.5 THz are generated from a 3-mm-thick GaP crystal through optical rectification of 12-W pump pulses with duration of 66 fs and a repetition rate of 52 MHz.A strong saturation effect is observed,which is attributed to pump pulse absorption;a Z-scan measurement shows that three-photon absorption dominates the nonlinear absorption when the crystal is pumped by femtosecond pulses at 1 040 nm.A further scale-up of the THz source power is expected to find important applications in THz nonlinear optics and nonlinear THz spectroscopy.     

Single-frequency terahertz source pumped by Q-switched fiber lasers based on difference-frequency generation in GaSe crystal

We demonstrate a unique terahertz (THz) source that is compact, utilizes recently developed all-fiber Q-switched lasers, and is based on difference-frequency generation in a GaSe crystal. A single piezo simultaneously Q switched the two fiber lasers by using stress-induced birefringence, to achieve the temporal overlap of pulses from the two fiber lasers. These correlated pulses then combine in the GaSe crystal to produce coherent and highly monochromatic THz pulses. The peak power for this THz source can reach 0.53 mW, corresponding to an average power of 0.43 microW and a conversion efficiency of 4.75 x 10(-7). The estimated linewidth of this THz source can be as narrow as approximately 35 MHz or 1.17 x 10(-3) cm(-1).     

Compact and cost-effective scheme for THz generation via optical rectification in GaP and GaAs using novel fs laser oscillators

We demonstrate a compact and cost-effective setup to generate broadband THz radiation. As pump source we use a diode-pumped solid-state femtosecond oscillator or a femtosecond fiber laser system, partially in combination with an optical parametric oscillator. For the THz generation we utilize optical rectification in gallium phosphide (GaP) and gallium arsenide (GaAs). The THz power is on the order of 1 μW and we demonstrate imaging and spectral measurements with this setup.     

不同抽运光强激发窄带隙半导体产生太赫兹辐射的研究

研究了窄带隙材料InAs和三种不同掺杂浓度的InN在不同抽运光强激发下产生太赫兹(THz)波的辐射特性.实验结果表明:在相同的抽运光强下,InN和InAs辐射的THz信号强度在同一量级,InAs较InN辐射效率要高一些.随着抽运光强的增大,这几种材料的发射光谱变得更宽,当抽运光增大到一定强度时,它们的发射光谱半极大值全宽(HMFW)趋于恒定.InN比InAs更容易在较低功率的抽运光作用下获得宽带太赫兹光谱.研究也表明,不同掺杂浓度对辐射THz波的强度及辐射效率有很大影响.这项研究对于探索半导体表面辐射太赫 关键词： InN InAs 太赫兹 抽运光强     

多脉冲激光增强太赫兹辐射的PIC模拟

 模拟了强激光和稀薄非均匀等离子体相互作用在界面辐射超强太赫兹波的物理过程,提出了利用多脉冲激光增强太赫兹辐射的方案,详细研究了多脉冲激光的脉冲个数（取１～４个）、脉冲间距等因素对太赫兹辐射功率和频率的影响。当入射激光包含4个脉冲时,辐射最强,此时的辐射功率是相同条件下单脉冲的6倍,可达到7.16 MW,辐射的太赫兹波的脉宽约为330 fs,总能量约为1 μJ。研究结果表明:多脉冲激光可以显著增强太赫兹辐射,且随着脉冲个数的增加,激起的电子静电波振幅变大,辐射功率也随之变大,直到尾流场饱和;当脉冲间距等于入射激光脉宽时辐射最强。     

DCOOD optically pumped by a 13CO2 laser: new terahertz laser lines

In this work we report on new optically pumped THz laser lines from deuterated formic acid (DCOOD). An isotopic ¹³CO₂ laser was used for the first time as a pump source for this molecule, and a Fabry–Perot cavity was used as a THz laser resonator. Optoacoustic absorption spectra were used as a guide to search for new THz laser lines. We could observe six new laser lines in the range from 303.8 μm (0.987 THz) to 725.1 μm (0.413 THz). The lines were characterized according to wavelength, relative polarization, relative intensity, and optimum working pressure. The transferred lamb-dip technique was used to measure the frequency absorption transition for both of these laser lines. Furthermore, we also present a catalogue of all THz laser lines generated from DCOOD.     

基于光放大的长脉冲抽运太赫兹激光

为了获得较窄增益带宽、较大光强的太赫兹辐射,尝试了利用TEA CO₂激光器对6 W可调谐连续波CO₂种子激光实行双程光放大实验,以期望获得长脉冲、高峰值功率的抽运光.通过实验,获得了大约30倍的放大系数,放大光输出功率随种子光注入功率的增加而增加,其中10 P （20）支线表现更加突出,并且被放大的激光支线半峰全宽在14 μs左右.基于这种长脉冲抽运源,建立了一种产生脉冲太赫兹的动力学模型,给出了产生太赫兹辐射的饱和抽运光强表达式,确定了抽运光的光强范围.另外, 关键词： 激光物理 长脉冲 动力学模型 太赫兹激光     

飞秒超强激光驱动太赫兹辐射特性的实验研究

强太赫兹源是太赫兹科学技术发展的关键,其中大能量强场太赫兹脉冲源在超快物态调控、新型电子加速器等领域具有重要的应用前景.超快超强激光与等离子体相互作用是近年来发展起来的一种新型的强场太赫兹辐射产生途径.本文报道了利用超强飞秒激光脉冲与金属薄膜靶作用产生太赫兹辐射的实验结果,研究了激光能量和离焦量对靶后太赫兹辐射能量的影响,并通过监测激光背向散射光谱,定性揭示了其变化规律与不同光强下的电子加热机制的相关性.实验表征了太赫兹辐射的频谱、偏振及聚焦光斑情况.测量结果表明,实验产生了脉冲能量达458μJ、聚焦场强高达GV/m量级的超宽带太赫兹辐射,为开展极端太赫兹脉冲与物质相互作用研究提供了一种新的强场太赫兹光源.     

Analysis of generation of terahertz radiation by nonlinear mixing of laser frequencies in GaAs crystal

Generation of terahertz (THz) radiation by nonlinear mixing of laser frequencies in GaAs crystal is considered for the case of free and guided propagation of THz waves. In the first case the strong diffraction of the THz radiation leads to the deviation from the known square-law growth of the generator power with increasing crystal length, In the second case the spatial divergence of the exciting laser beam results in the appearance of a maximum in the generated power dependence on the radius of the nonlinear waveguide. According to estimations, the optimal radius of the laser beam is 18 μm for the waveguide length of 6 mm and the maximal generated THz power is ～27 W at the laser beam power of 10 kW.     

Tunable terahertz generation from one CO2 laser in a GaSe crystal

Coherent terahertz pulses have been generated at a range of 236.3-1104.5 μm (0.27-1.3 THz) by one CO₂ laser with dual-wavelength output based on collinearly phase-matched different frequency generation (DFG) in a GaSe crystal. This source has the advantages of compact and simplicity for tuning. The output power of the THz pulse and phase-matching conditions were investigated. The maximum single pulse energy of 11 nJ was generated at a frequency of 1.23 THz (243.6 μm), corresponding to a peak output power 182 mW.     

Efficient and widely step-tunable terahertz generation with a dual-wavelength CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser

Coherent terahertz radiation in a widely step-tunable range of 72.3–2706 μm (0.11–4.15 THz) has been generated in GaAs crystal by difference-frequency generation using one CO₂ laser with dual-wavelength output. The peak power of THz pulse reaches 35 W at the wavelength of 236.3 μm, which corresponds to a pulse energy of 2.1 μJ. An average power of 10 μW has been achieved when working repetitively. This efficient terahertz radiation source is more compact and widely tunable than other THz sources pumped by CO₂ laser.     

Terahertz radiation source in air based on bifilamentation of femtosecond laser pulses

A new terahertz (THz) source in air based on the bifilamentation of femtosecond laser pulses is reported. This THz radiation is 1 order of magnitude more intense than the transition-Cherenkov THz emission from femtosecond laser filaments reported recently and shows different angular and polarization properties. We attribute it to the emission from a bimodal transmission line created by two plasma filaments.     

Short Terahertz Pulse Generation from a Dispersion Compensated Modelocked Semiconductor Laser

Dispersion compensation is vital for the generation of ultrashort and single cycle pulses from modelocked lasers across the electromagnetic spectrum. It is typically based on addition of an extra dispersive element to the laser cavity that introduces a chromatic dispersion opposite to that of the gain medium. To date, however, no dispersion compensation schemes have been successfully applied to terahertz (THz) quantum cascade lasers for short and stable pulse generation in the THz range. In this work, a monolithic on‐chip compensation scheme is realized for a modelocked QCL, permitting THz pulses to be considerably shortened from 16ps to 4ps. This is based on the realization of a small coupled cavity resonator that acts as an ‘off resonance’ Gires‐Tournois interferometer (GTI), permitting large THz spectral bandwidths to be compensated. This novel application of a GTI opens up a direct and simple route to sub‐picosecond and single cycle pulses in the THz range from a compact semiconductor source.     

Integrated injection seeded terahertz source and amplifier for time-domain spectroscopy

We used a terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) as an integrated injection seeded source and amplifier for THz time-domain spectroscopy. A THz input pulse is generated inside a QCL by illuminating the laser facet with a near-IR pulse from a femtosecond laser and amplified using gain switching. The THz output from the QCL is found to saturate upon increasing the amplitude of the THz input power, which indicates that the QCL is operating in an injection seeded regime.     

紧凑型自由电子激光THz源上四极磁铁的设计及测量

基于自由电子激光（FEL）的太赫兹源具有高功率、高效率、波谱范围宽且连续可调、波束质量好等显著优点,目前是获得最高输出功率的方法。紧凑型太赫兹源使整体装置小型化,减少了装置成本和占用空间,但依然可以提供高功率、高品质的太赫兹波束,是一种便利可靠的用户装置。由于空间限制,FEL上的磁铁要尽可能地减小其尺寸,并仍能满足束流参数设计要求。本文设计的四极磁铁磁轭孔径与有效长度,其中2块是64 mm100 mm,另外3块是45 mm100 mm。这些四极磁铁的磁场梯度可以达到0.6~1.9 Tm-1。采用Poisson和Oprra-3D软件进行四极磁铁的二维和三维仿真计算,设计优化四极磁铁的结构,并测量了加工完成后的四极磁铁的磁场。     

Coherent single-cycle pulses with MV/cm field strengths from a relativistic transition radiation light source

Terahertz (THz) pulses with energies up to 100 μJ and corresponding electric fields up to 1 MV/cm were generated by coherent transition radiation from 500 MeV electron bunches at the free-electron laser Freie-Elektronen-Laser in Hamburg (FLASH). The pulses were characterized in the time domain by electro-optical sampling by a synchronized femtosecond laser with jitter of less than 100 fs. High THz field strengths and quality of synchronization with an optical laser will enable observation of nonlinear THz phenomena.     

Terahertz imaging through self-mixing in a quantum cascade laser

We demonstrate terahertz (THz) frequency imaging using a single quantum cascade laser (QCL) device for both generation and sensing of THz radiation. Detection is achieved by utilizing the effect of self-mixing in the THz QCL, and, specifically, by monitoring perturbations to the voltage across the QCL, induced by light reflected from an external object back into the laser cavity. Self-mixing imaging offers high sensitivity, a potentially fast response, and a simple, compact optical design, and we show that it can be used to obtain high-resolution reflection images of exemplar structures.