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.