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.     

Design and theoretical study of a polarization-insensitive multiband terahertz metamaterial bandpass filter

We report the design of a novel multiband metamaterial bandpass filter(BPF) in the terahertz(THz)-wave region. The designed BPF is composed of a metal–dielectric–metal sandwiched structure with three nested rings on the top surface and a cross structure on the bottom surface. Full-wave simulation results show that the designed BPF has three transmission peaks at frequencies of 0.42, 1.27, and 1.86 THz with transmission rates of-0.87,-1.85, and-1.83 d B, respectively.Multi-reflection interference theory is introduced to explain the transmission mechanism of the designed triple-band BPF.The theoretical transmission spectrum is in good agreement with the full-wave simulated results. The designed BPF can maintain a stable performance as the incident angle varies from 0?to 30?for both transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarizations of the incident wave. The designed BPF can be potentially used in THz devices due to its multiband transmissions, polarization insensitivity, and stable wide-angle response in the THz region.     

Characteristics of efficient few-cycle terahertz radiation generated in as-grown nonlinear organic single crystals

We investigated efficient terahertz wave generation by optical rectification in as-grown nonlinear organic single crystal HMQ-T (2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyryl)-1-methylquinolinium 4-methylbenzenesulfonate). Optimal thickness of crystals directly available by a slow cooling method in methanol solution enabled us to achieve high-field few-cycle THz waves at 800-nm pumping. With 95-mW pumping at 1-kHz repetition rate, an optical-to-THz conversion efficiency of 2.7 × 10⁻⁴ was achieved and the THz electric field strength, measured by electro-optic sampling, was as high as 110.1 kV/cm. Such an efficient THz source based on as-grown HMQ-T crystals can be used for investigation of various nonlinear phenomena in the THz spectral region.     

Wide-field imaging using a tunable terahertz free electron laser and a thermal image plate

The appearance of intense terahertz sources such as quantum cascade laser and free electron laser opens up new opportunities for 2D imaging. Though microbolometer and pyroelectric arrays are promising recorders, they are of small size and cannot be used when wide-field imaging in the longwave region is required. We applied for terahertz imaging 3″ × 3″ and 6″ × 6″ Macken Instruments Inc. “thermal image plates”, a set of thermal sensitive phosphor screens operating in a room temperature environment. The Novosibirsk free electron laser was used as a source of radiation. We have found that the response of thermal image plate is linear until the relative quenching is less than 60% of the initial luminescence intensity. The response curve follows the Seitz–Mott law. The threshold sensitivity was found to be 100 mW/cm² at 1.5 THz and 40 mW/cm² at 2.3 THz. Interferograms, holograms, and terahertz beam spatial distributions recorded in the spectral range of 1.2–2.5 THz are given as examples.     

Determination of the complex refractivity of Au,Cu and Al in terahertz and far-infrared regions from reflection spectra measurements

A scheme to determine the complex refractivity of gold (Au), Copper (Cu) and Aluminum (Al) from measurements of ellipsometer and spectrometer are proposed in this paper. The reflection spectra of the metals from 4 THz to 40 THz are measured with spectrometer. The determined refractivity by Kramers-Kronig (KK) algorithm coincides with the measured results from ellipsometer in far infrared region. Drude model is invited to make the wing correction on the terahertz reflection spectra, which helps to eliminate the effects of the noises from spectrometer on KK algorithm. The calculated refractive indexes from measured spectra in terahertz region are in consistent with those from corrected reflection spectra. The advantage of the scheme is to obtain terahertz dispersion properties based on limited information in infrared region.     

A terahertz single-polarization single-mode photonic crystal fiber with a rectangular array of micro-holes in the core region

A single-polarization single-mode (SPSM) photonic crystal fiber with a rectangular array of micro-holes in the core region was designed in the terahertz frequency range near 1 THz. Based on the asymmetric arrangement of the micro-holes, birefringence between the fundamental x-polarized and y-polarized modes is introduced. A SPSM operation of the terahertz fiber can be supported due to the different mode indices of the x-polarized and y-polarized modes. The SPSM operation band is about 320 GHz with a central frequency of 1 THz. In addition, the proposed terahertz fiber also shows a good property of reduced propagation loss comparing with the dielectric absorption.     

Si–LiNbO3–air–metal structure for concentrated terahertz emission from ultrashort laser pulses

A planar Si–LiNbO₃–air–metal structure is proposed as a further development of the highly efficient optical-to-terahertz conversion scheme in sandwich structures that was recently demonstrated. The new structure allows one to collect the terahertz emission into one spatial direction and to control its spectrum by varying an air gap between the metal substrate and the LiNbO₃ layer. While the overall increase in the terahertz generation can reach a factor of 2, the spectral density in the interesting for practical application interval 0.5–1.5 THz can be increased by a factor of 3.5–4.     

A TERAHERTZ PHASE FREQUENCY CHANGER WITH THE CRYSTAL QUARTZ PHASE SECTIONS

A phase frequency changer (PFC) for quasi-optical transmission line with phase sections made of crystal quartz and polarizers executed on the basis of small-period wire gratings has been considered. The PFC is intended for operation in terahertz (THz) frequency region. It has been examined at the frequency f _o= 0.89THz. The influence of the differential phase shift deviation in the sections on the output signal spectrum and the influence of the sections mismatch on the reflection signal spectrum have been considered. In the frequency region ± 10% f _o the levels of the spurious spectral components of output signal are less than −40 dB with regard to the level of the useful signal of the shifted frequency. The levels of all spectral components of the reflection signal are less than −60 dB with regard to the level of the useful component of the PFC output signal.     

Application of terahertz spectroscopy and molecular modeling in isomers investigation: Glucose and fructose

Terahertz spectra of glucose and fructose have been measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) at room temperature. Because they have the same molecular formula, the differences of the THz spectra can be attributed to their molecular structures and the arrangement of molecules in unit cell. In this paper, gaseous-state theory has been employed to simulate the isolated molecule of these two isomers. The results indicate that experimental THz spectral features (0.5 – 4.0 THz) of glucose and fructose arise from the mixture of intramolecular and intermolecular modes, involving hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds, and with the intermolecular modes dominating.     

THz wave sensing for petroleum industrial applications

We present the results of terahertz (THz) sensing of gasoline products. The frequency-dependent absorption coefficients, refractive indices, and complex dielectric constants of gasoline and xylene isomers were extracted in the spectral range from 0.5–3.0 THz. The THz spectra of gasoline (#87, #89, #93) and related BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) compounds were studied by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the 1.5–20 THz (50–660 cm⁻¹). The xylene isomers, which are used as antiknock agent in gasoline were determined quantitatively in gasoline in the THz range. Our investigations show the potential of THz technology for the petroleum industrial applications.     

VCSEL-based calibration-free carbon monoxide sensor at 2.3 μm with in-line reference cell

A random porous fiber for transporting terahertz (THz) waves is proposed in this paper. The fiber, which to the best of our knowledge has not been investigated previously, has its core composed by randomly distributed air holes. A numerical study was carried out near 1 THz, showing that the new fiber possesses some improved fiber properties compared to the regular periodic porous fiber: the power fraction confined in the core is higher, the dispersion becomes lower, and more importantly a flatter dispersion curve appears within the frequency range of 0.8 THz to 1.4 THz.     

Structure-sensitive changes in the terahertz absorption spectra of merocyanine dye derivatives

The low-frequency vibrational modes of the series of merocyanines (malononitrile derivative) have been investigated by pulsed terahertz spectroscopy. The terahertz absorption spectra are shown to contain both intermolecular and intramolecular vibrational modes in the range of 0.15–3.45 THz (5–115 cm⁻¹). An unambiguous correlation is established between the purposeful modification of the molecular structure of merocyanine dyes and the change in their terahertz absorption spectra.     

Terahertz wave polarization rotation in bianisotropic metamaterials

Utilizing a polarization sensitive terahertz detection method where the detector is rotated by either 0° or 90° to measure the electric field E_{p, s} (t) of each polarization component, we have characterized the properties of split ring resonators. The strong polarization dependence of the bianisotropic-circular-current-driven and linear-polarization-induced resonances is in excellent agreement with the simulation when the p-polarized terahertz transmission is measured. However, these electromagnetic responses vanish when the s-polarized terahertz transmission is measured. There is only a transmission minimum at 1.64 THz and the terahertz polarization rotation angle of about 90° is observed. The polarized terahertz transmission amplitudes and spectra detected at orthogonal orientations show that these behaviours are probably attributed to the birefringent effect of the sample.     

Terahertz spectroscopic investigations of caffeine and 3-acetylmorphine

Experimental and theoretical investigations of THz spectral features of caffeine and 3-acetylmorphine in the region of 0.2-2.6 THz have been presented. The refractive indices and absorption coefficients of the two drugs were obtained by a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) technique. The simulated absorption spectra using the density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree-Fork (HF) are in agreement with the experimental data. The observed spectral absorption features were assigned based on DFT and HF calculation.     

A waveguide high-pass filter system for measuring the spectrum of pulsed terahertz sources

We propose a system for measuring spectra of terahertz (THz) pulses, including single pulses, which is based on high-pass filters (HPFs). The system consists of channels for measuring amplitudes of pulses (initial pulses and those transmitted via HPFs with different cutoff frequencies) and an algorithm for processing of the obtained data. The pulse spectrum is restored by using the iteration method or the amplitude–frequency method. The iteration method of spectrum restoration is applicable in the range of THz pulse durations from 10⁻⁹ s to 10⁻⁷ s. The amplitude–frequency method is applicable to THz pulses with durations exceeding 10⁻⁸ s. The system for measuring of THz pulse spectra was simulated by using the characteristics of specially developed waveguide HPFs. The relative simulation error of determining the central frequency by the amplitude–frequency method is equal to 2 · 10⁻⁶ for THz pulse durations of 10⁻⁵ s and longer.     

Experimental research on resolution improvement in CW THz digital holography

High-resolution continuous-wave terahertz (CW THz) real-time imaging operating at 2.52 THz is demonstrated based on THz digital holographic technique. To eliminate the influence of zero-order diffraction while reducing the recording distance, effective zero-order diffraction suppression methods are studied and compared. The spatial resolution of the imaging system is tested by imaging a self-made Siemens star. When the recording distance is 2.1 cm, the measured resolution can reach 0.245 mm. The experimental results confirm the high imaging performance of the THz digital holography system.     

Simultaneous generation of a proton beam and terahertz radiation in high-intensity laser and thin-foil interaction

We have observed simultaneously both the fast proton generation and terahertz (THz) radiation in the laser pulse interaction with a 5-μm thick titanium target. In order to control the proton acceleration and THz radiation, we have changed the duration of the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) preceding the main pulse generated by the high-intensity Ti:sapphire laser. A fast proton beam with the maximal energy of ∼ 490 keV has been realized by reducing the duration of the ASE. Simultaneously, an intense emission of THz radiation is observed for various ASE durations. We propose the antenna mechanism for the THz radiation, according to which the fast electrons moving along the target surface emit the low-frequency electromagnetic wave. PACS 52.25.Os; 52.38.Kd; 52.50.Jm     

Microcavity THz quantum cascade laser

We report operation of disk and ring shaped terahertz (THz) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) emitting in the THz region between 3.0 and 3.4 THz. The GaAs/Al_0.15Ga_0.85As heterostructure is based on longitudinal-optical phonon scattering for depopulation of the lower radiative state. A double metal waveguide is used to confine the whispering gallery modes in the gain medium. The threshold current density is at 5 K. 3D Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) simulations were performed to obtain the field distributions within a THz QCl resonator at different frequencies.     

含能离子盐的太赫兹光谱研究

在传统硝基含能材料研究的基础上,进一步探索含能离子盐类物质的太赫兹波谱特性,拓宽太赫兹波技术在安全检测领域的应用研究范围,对新型含能离子盐(5-ATN,BMDATHBT)进行了太赫兹时域光谱和傅里叶变换红外光谱的实验测量,得到样品在0.5～8.0 THz范围内的吸收频谱.基于密度泛函理论,采用Gaussian 03及M...