Detection of broadband terahertz waves with a laser-induced plasma in gases

We report the experimental results and theoretical analysis of broadband detection of terahertz (THz) waves via electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation in laser-induced air plasma with ultrashort laser pulses. By introducing the second-harmonic component of the white light in the laser-induced plasma as a local oscillator, coherent detection of broadband THz waves with ambient air is demonstrated for the first time. Our results show that, depending on the probe intensity, detection of THz waves in air can be categorized as incoherent, hybrid, and coherent detection. Coherent detection is achieved only when the tunnel ionization process dominates in gases.     

THz wave polarization-controlled spectroscopic imaging for anisotropic materials

We present a polarization-controlled terahertz (THz) wave spectroscopic imaging modality to investigate the anisotropy of the detected materials. The polarization of the emitted THz wave is controlled by changing the relative phase between the fundamental and second-harmonic waves in the two-color laser-induced air plasma THz generation configuration. The THz wave polarization direction is extracted by measuring the two electric field amplitudes when the polarization of the incident wave is controlled to be horizontal and vertical. The anisotropy of the industrial Sprayed-On-Foam-Insulation (SOFI) is characterized by measuring its azimuthal angle dependent THz polarization response. This work demonstrates that THz wave polarization-controlled imaging technique can be used for highly sensitive industrial nondestructive inspection and biological related characterization.     

Coherent control of THz wave generation in ambient air

Our study of THz wave generation in the pulsed laser induced air plasma with individually controlled phase, polarization, and amplitude of the optical fundamental wave (omega) and its second harmonic (2omega) indicates that the third-order nonlinear optical process mixing the omega and 2omega beams in the ionized plasma is the main mechanism of the efficient THz wave generation. The polarity and the strength of the emitted THz field are completely controlled by the relative phase between the omega and 2omega waves. The measured THz field amplitude is proportional to the pulse energy of the fundamental beam and to the square root of the pulse energy of the second-harmonic beam once the total optical pulse energy exceeds the plasma formation threshold. The optimal THz field is achieved when all waves (omega, 2omega, and THz waves) are at the same polarization in the four-wave-mixing process.     

Excitation-wavelength-dependent THz wave modulation via external bias electric field

A theoretical model was proposed to describe the effects of external bias electric field on terahertz(THz) generated in air plasma. The model predicted that for a plasma in a bias electric field, the amplification effect of the THz wave intensity increases with the increase of the excitation laser wavelength. We experimentally observed the relationship between the THz enhancement effect and the electric field strength at different wavelengths. Experimental results showed a good agreement with the model predictions. These results enhance our understanding of the physical mechanism by which femtosecond lasers excite air to generate THz and extend the practical applications of THz generation and modulation.     

Generation of ultrabroadband terahertz radiation under optical breakdown of air by two femtosecond pulses of different frequencies

Experimental results on the generation of terahertz (THz) electromagnetic radiation under ionization of air by femtosecond pulses at fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies of a Ti-sapphire laser are presented. The mean power of the generated THz radiation as a function of the time delay between two pulses of different frequencies is found to be quasi-periodical. Theoretically, we show that efficient generation of THz radiation is governed by the inertial part of the nonlinear response of the medium, which is determined by the dynamics of population of highly excited states with subsequent emission of electrons.     

All-optical ultrafast polarization switching of terahertz radiation by impulsive molecular alignment

We experimentally demonstrate ultrafast polarization switching of terahertz (THz) radiation generated by dual-color driving pulses composed of orthogonally polarized fundamental and second-harmonic waves, which can be controlled by field-free molecular alignment in air by modulating the relative phase between the two field components as a transient dynamic wave plate. By fine-tuning the time delay to properly match the molecular alignment revivals, a significant polarization modulation of the THz radiation is observed and both linearly and elliptically polarized THz radiations can be obtained.     

Terahertz wave generation via pre-ionized air plasma

We report the terahertz(THz) wave generation from a single-color scheme modulated by pre-ionized air plasma via an orthogonal pumping geometry. It is found that the amplitude of the THz signal generated by the pump beam tends to decrease gradually with the increase of the modulation power. We believe that the ponderomotive force plays an important role in the process of the interaction between the pump beam and the pre-ionization beam. The hydrostatic state of the electrostatic separation field caused by the modulation beam will directly affect the generation efficiency of the THz wave. Our results contribute to further understanding of the theoretical mechanism and expanding of the practical applications of THz wave generation and modulation.     

利用空气来探测脉冲太赫兹波

曾有报道利用飞秒激光脉冲通过空气中的三阶光学非线性过程产生高强度的太赫兹波．理论上，作为太赫兹波产生的逆过程，有可能实现用空气作为介质探测脉冲太赫兹波．作者以空气或激光诱导的空气等离子体作为介质，通过测量太赫兹波场诱导产生的二次谐波信号，首次实现了宽带太赫兹波的时间分辨探测，本文介绍了空气中太赫兹波的非相干和相干探测的实验结果和理论分析．迄今为止，这种具有突破意义的太赫兹波空气电离相干探测法（THz-ABCD）的频谱宽度可以超过8THz，实现动态范围可达30dB。     

激光等离子体光丝中太赫兹频谱的调控

研究了双色激光场激发空气成丝产生太赫兹辐射频谱的变化规律.实验观察到随驱动光功率和光丝长度增加,太赫兹光谱主要发生红移的现象.分析表明,由于等离子体密度的增加,太赫兹辐射的趋肤深度减小,等离子体吸收主导了红移的发生.在光丝足够短的条件下,趋肤深度远大于光丝长度,从而产生等离子体振荡主导的太赫兹辐射光谱蓝移.本研究为超快宽带太赫兹辐射的频谱调控提供了新思路.     

Intense terahertz pulses by four-wave rectification in air

We describe a new four-wave rectification method for the generation of intense, ultrafast terahertz (THz) pulses from gases. The fundamental and second-harmonic output of an amplified Ti:sapphire laser is focused to a peak intensity of ~5x10(14)W/cm (2) . Under these conditions, peak THz fields estimated at 2 kV/cm have been observed; the measured power spectrum peaks near 2 THz. Phase-dependent measurements show that this is a coherent process and is sensitive to the relative phases of the fundamental and second-harmonic pulses. Comparable THz signals have been observed from nitrogen and argon as well as from air.     

Second-harmonic generation of an optical frequency comb at 1.55 microm with periodically poled lithium niobate

To expand the span of the optical frequency comb (OFC), we generated the second harmonics of an OFC at 1.55microm , using a multiperiod periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. A coupled-cavity OFC generator with an average output power of 0.2 mW was amplified and expanded with a fiber amplifier and a dispersion-flattened fiber. The fundamental OFC average power and span were 100 mW and 45 THz, respectively. The second-harmonic comb's span was 3.2 THz; however, we tuned the center frequency over 30 THz by changing the poling period. We also demonstrated that the second-harmonic comb can be used for frequency-difference measurement.     

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)     

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.     

Generation of sub-6-fs blue pulses by frequency doubling with quasi-phase-matching gratings

We demonstrate the generation of sub-6-fs pulses centered at 405 nm by frequency doubling of 8.6-fs Ti:sapphire laser pulses. The frequency doubling is carried out in a nonlinearly chirped quasi-phase-matching grating fabricated in a lithium tantalate substrate. This device simultaneously provides frequency conversion and pulse compression of the positively prechirped fundamental pulses. The second-harmonic pulses are characterized in a cross-correlation setup, and their pulse shapes are retrieved by two iterative phase-reconstruction algorithms. The generated second-harmonic spectrum spans a bandwidth of 220 THz. To our knowledge, these are the shortest pulses ever generated in the blue spectral region.     

Generation of electromagnetic waves in the terahertz frequency range by optical rectification of a Gaussian laser pulse in a plasma in presence of an externally applied static electric field

We propose a theoretical model for the generation of electromagnetic waves in the terahertz (THz) frequency range by the optical rectification of a Gaussian laser pulse in a plasma with an applied static electric field transverse to the direction of propagation. A Gaussian laser pulse can exert a transverse component of the quasi‐static ponderomotive force on the electrons at a frequency in the THz range by a suitable choice of the laser pulse width. This nonlinear force is responsible for the density oscillation. The coupling of this oscillation with the drift velocity acquired by electrons due to the applied static electric field leads to the generation of a nonlinear current density. A spatial Gaussian intensity profile of the laser beam enhances the generated THz yield by many folds as compared to a uniform spatial intensity profile.     

Broadband THz emission from gas plasmas induced by femtosecond optical pulses: From fundamentals to applications

We review the generation of broadband THz radiation from femtosecond photo‐induced gas plasmas, with an emphasis on the highly efficient “AC‐bias” case where the plasma is generated and driven by a superposition of fundamental and second‐harmonic optical fields. The dependence on experimental parameters such as pulse energy, air pressure, polarization and focusing are presented, and compared to the predictions from semi‐quantitative models for the THz generation process, namely (i) a microscopic photocurrent model and (ii) a four‐wave mixing model. We also employ these models to the case of few‐cycle pulses, where the observed THz emission is related directly to the carrier‐envelope phase of the pulses, and hence provides a mechanism with which to measure this phase.}     

Characteristic features of generation of few-cycle pulses in infrared and terahertz spectral ranges upon interaction of two femtosecond pulses of different frequencies in air

The results of a theoretical analysis of the generation of broadband radiation in the infrared and terahertz spectral ranges upon the excitation of plasma in air by two femtosecond pulses at the fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies of a Ti-sapphire laser are presented. It is found that the appearance of long-wavelength radiation in a strong field of pulses of different frequencies can be described in terms of strongly anharmonic oscillations of optical electrons, whereby electrons are pulled far away from their atoms; these oscillations are accompanied by cascade transitions of electrons from their ground state to a bound excited state, followed by a transition to the continuum. It is shown that the generated infrared and terahertz radiation appears in the form of pulses containing a few oscillations of the light field. The efficiency of terahertz generation varies periodically with an increase in the interaction length of the femtosecond pulses of different frequencies.     

THz Generation by Optical Rectification and Competition with Other Nonlinear Processes

We present a study of the competition between tera-hertz （THz） generation by optical rectification in （110） ZnTe crystals, two-photon absorption, second harmonic generation and free-carrier absorption. The two-photon nonlinear absorption coefficient, second harmonic generation efficiency and free-carrier absorption coefficient in the THz range are measured independently. The incident pump field is shown to be depleted by two-photon absorption and the THz radiation is shown to be reduced, upon focusing, by free-carrier absorption. The reduction of the generated THz radiation upon tight focusing is explained, provided that one also takes into account diffraction effects from the sub-wavelength THz source.     

Weak localization effects in the second-harmonic light scattered by random systems of particles

We report rigorous numerical simulations that show the presence of coherent backscattering effects in the second-harmonic generation and scattering of light by random systems of two-dimensional particles. Since the medium composing the particles is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic, the second-harmonic field is generated mainly by surface effects. For the fundamental frequency, the results present a clear enhanced backscattering peak. In contrast, the second-harmonic scattering patterns present an intensity dip in the backscattering direction.     

激光在大气中驱动的强太赫兹辐射的理论和实验研究

两束双色激光脉冲能在大气中产生MV/cm的强太赫兹波.本文主要介绍了我们最近的三项理论和实验工作,澄清了双色激光方案的物理机制这个长期存在的问题,并对该方案进行了推广.为了在气体中有效地产生太赫兹波,在广泛研究的双色激光方案中两束激光的频率比ω_2/ω_1总是被取为1:2.首先从理论上预测采用其他频率比时,此方案仍能有效地工作,并通过实验进行证实.实验上观察到在新的频率比ω_2/ω_1=1:4,2:3下,也能有效地产生太赫兹波;观察到通过旋转较长波长的激光脉冲的偏振方向,能够有效地调节太赫兹波的偏振,但是旋转波长较短的激光脉冲的偏振方向,太赫兹波的偏振几乎没有变化,这违背了多波混频理论中极化率张量对称性的要求;采用不同的频率比时,太赫兹能量定标率并没有显示出明显的区别,这与多波混频理论预测的能量定标率不符.这些实验结果与等离子体电流模型及粒子模拟结果符合得很好.因此,该研究不仅对双色激光方案进行了推广,而且证实了其物理机制应该归结为等离子体电流模型.