Control of peaks of terahertz radiation and tuning of its frequency and intensity

We propose to employ dark hollow laser beams (DHBs) for obtaining multifocal terahertz (THz) radiations which are quite useful in medical applications. The number of peaks in the THz field can be suppressed if we apply external magnetic field and use intense lasers so that the relativistic effects are prominent. It means we can achieve strong bifocal THz radiation with this scheme. However, multifocal THz radiation can be reconstituted by increasing the beating frequency of the lasers. The separation of the peaks can be controlled by wisely choosing the orders of the lasers, and also by varying the strength of the magnetic field. The magnetic field is found to enhance the THz field, and also it tunes the frequency of the THz field. The DHBs of higher and equal orders are found to be most significant for efficient THz radiation generation with respect to the role of the magnetic field and density ripples.     

Enhancement and modulation of terahertz radiation by multi-color laser pulses

We study theoretically intense terahertz radiation from multi-color laser pulse with uncommon frequency ratios. Comparing the two-color laser scheme, of which the uncommon frequency ratio should be set to be a specific value, we show that by using multi-color harmonic laser pulses as the first pump component, the lasers as the second pump component can be adjusted in a continuous frequency range. Moreover, these multi-color laser pulses can effectively modulate and enhance the terahertz radiation, and the terahertz yield increases with the increase of the wavelength of the uncommon pump component and is stable to the laser relative phase. Finally, we utilize the electron densities and velocities of ionization events to illustrate the physical mechanism of the intense terahertz 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.     

激光波长对双色激光等离子体产生太赫兹波的影响

基于瞬态光电流模型研究了激光波长对双色激光等离子体产生太赫兹波的影响.通过理论计算证明:太赫兹信号随激光波长的增大而增强,其变化趋势不会因为双色激光强度、脉宽、相位差、强度比的变化而改变;太赫兹波的频谱不会因为激光波长的改变发生变化.分析了双色激光波长影响太赫兹辐射强度的原因,并利用自由电子密度和漂移电流密度阐明了该影响的内在物理机制.     

Determination of the temporal profile of a terahertz pulse by applying the nonlinear-optical cross-correlation method

The nonlinear-optical cross-correlation method is proposed to determine the temporal profile of the electric field of a pulse terahertz radiation modulating the phase of the basic femtosecond laser pulse in an electrooptical crystal. In this method the measurement of the temporal profile of the electric field of the terahertz radiation pulse is realized in one laser pulse.     

Strong enhancement of terahertz radiation from laser filaments in air by a static electric field

We observe a 3 order of magnitude enhancement of the terahertz energy radiated by a femtosecond pulse undergoing filamentation in air in the presence of a static electric field. Measurements of terahertz pulse duration, spectrum, polarization, and radiation pattern elucidate the physical processes responsible for this radiation. A theoretical model explains the results and predicts another 3 orders of magnitude enhancement with a terawatt laser pulse.     

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.     

Optically pumped terahertz lasers with high pulse repetition frequency: theory and design

Optically pumped terahertz （THz） lasers with high pulse repetition frequency are designed. Such a laser includes two parts： the optically pumping laser and the THz laser. The structures of the laser are described and analyzed. The rate equations for the pulsed THz laser are given. The kinetic process and laser pulse waveform for this kind of laser are numerically calculated based on the theory of rate equations. The theoretical results give a helpful guide to the research of such lasers.     

Generation of low-frequency radiation by dense hot plasma under pondermotive action of a short laser pulse

The theory of the generation of low-frequency radiation under the pondermotive action of a femtosecond laser pulse on dense hot plasma is developed. It is shown that, at fairly high plasma temperatures, when electron-electron collisions are rare and the low-frequency field is excited under conditions of the anomalous skin effect, the generation efficiency can be close to maximal. The optimal generation conditions are achieved if the carrier frequency of the laser pulse is close to the plasma frequency and the pulse is tightly focused. Under irradiation by pulses with durations of tens to hundreds femtoseconds, terahertz radiation is generated in a broad angular range.     

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.     

On the possibility of terahertz wave generation upon dense gas optical breakdown

The possibility of applying the physical principles underlying the operation of a solid-state terahertz oscillator to plasma gas-discharge media is analyzed. A new method of electromagnetic wave generation in the terahertz frequency range is proposed. It is based on the excitation of plasma-oscillation current by a static electric field in a laser spark produced by an axicon lens, followed by the radiation of an electromagnetic pulse through the Cherenkov mechanism.     

Generation of phase-locked and tunable continuous-wave radiation in the terahertz regime

Broadly tunable phase-stable single-frequency terahertz radiation is generated with an optical heterodyne photomixer. The photomixer is excited by two near-infrared CW diode lasers that are phase locked to the stabilized optical frequency comb of a femtosecond titanium:sapphire laser. The terahertz radiation emitted by the photomixer is downconverted into RF frequencies with a waveguide harmonic mixer and measurement-limited linewidths at the Hertz level are demonstrated.     

Threshold self-start of laser passive mode-locking under conditions of high-order frequency dispersion of the refractive index

The dependence of the self-start of laser passive mode-locking on the peak intensity of initial pulses under conditions of high-order frequency dispersion of the refractive index is analyzed using numerical simulation and analytical calculations. It is found that frequency dispersion of this type can lead to generation bistability. Specifically, laser passive mode-locking requires the generation of a sufficiently intense seed pulse in the initial noise distribution of the field in the laser cavity; otherwise, no laser passive mode-locking occurs and a steady-state lasing mode with the entire laser cavity filled with radiation is established in the system after the transient process is completed. The revealed threshold dependence of the self-start of laser passive mode-locking on the intensity of the initial seed pulse is one of the possible factors preventing the generation of ultrashort pulses in Kerr-lens lasers.     

Terahertz radiation from armchair carbon nanotube dipole antenna

This paper investigates the electromagnetic radiation characteristics of a metallic, large aspect ratio single walled carbon nanotube antenna in the terahertz frequency region below 12.5 THz. The key features of terahertz pulse have been revealed on the carbon nanotube antenna in comparison with conventional photoconductive switching. The terahertz waveforms, radiation power and their field distributions have been evaluated and are analysed. The Fourier transformed spectra over the whole frequency range demonstrate that the carbon nanotube antenna can be used as radiation source for broadband terahertz applications.     

0.14 THz高功率太赫兹脉冲的参数测量

给出了0.14 THz高功率单次脉冲信号的频率和功率的测量方法及实验结果。针对高功率太赫兹脉冲频率高、峰值功率高和脉宽短的特点,实验中采用了截止波导滤波法与谐波混频法相结合的方式准确测定了脉冲信号频率,利用辐射场功率密度积分法获取了辐射脉冲的远场功率分布,并给出了单次脉冲的辐射功率。某实验条件下的测量结果表明,0.14 THz高功率太赫兹脉冲的频率为0.146 3 THz,脉宽约为1.5 ns,功率不小于0.5 MW。     

0.14 THz高功率太赫兹脉冲的参数测量

给出了0.14 THz高功率单次脉冲信号的频率和功率的测量方法及实验结果。针对高功率太赫兹脉冲频率高、峰值功率高和脉宽短的特点,实验中采用了截止波导滤波法与谐波混频法相结合的方式准确测定了脉冲信号频率,利用辐射场功率密度积分法获取了辐射脉冲的远场功率分布,并给出了单次脉冲的辐射功率。某实验条件下的测量结果表明,0.14 THz高功率太赫兹脉冲的频率为0.146 3 THz,脉宽约为1.5 ns,功率不小于0.5 MW。     

Simultaneous Amplification of Terahertz Difference Frequencies by an Injection-Seeded Semiconductor Laser Amplifier at 850 nm

Two-frequency operation of an 850 nm semiconductor optical amplifier was achieved by simultaneously injection seeding it with two diode lasers. The two frequencies could be independently amplified without strong interference when they were separated by more than 10 GHz, and the spectral purity was preserved by the amplification process. At frequency differences below 10 GHz, unbalanced two-frequency output was observed, which can be explained by a two-mode interaction driven by the refractive index modulation at the beat frequency. The laser system is suitable for the difference-frequency generation of coherent terahertz radiation in ultra-fast photoconductors or nonlinear optical media.     

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.     

Generation of coherent terahertz radiation by photomixing of dual-mode lasers

We have reviewed and discussed the generation of continuous-wave terahertz radiation by the photomixing of dual-mode lasers, which includes a multi-mode laser diode (LD), a dual-mode microchip laser, a monolithic dual-mode DBR LD, and a widely tunable dual-mode external cavity LD. It is demonstrated by several experiments that the beat frequency of a dual-mode laser is more stable than the original laser modes because of the common-mode rejection effect. We also suggest a novel scheme by which the optical beat is stabilized to less than 1 kHz and its frequency can be precisely determined as well.     

Generation of terahertz radiation during reflection of femtosecond laser pulses from a metal surface

The features of terahertz radiation generated upon oblique incidence of a femtosecond laser pulse on a metal surface are investigated theoretically. We propose a Cherenkov-type generation mechanism associated with excitation of low-frequency surface currents by a p-polarized optical field. The nonlinear surface currents and corresponding electrodynamic characteristics of low-frequency radiation are calculated analytically and by numerical simulation using the hydrodynamic model. The features of Cherenkov generation of terahertz radiation are analyzed, and techniques are proposed for increasing efficiency.