High-Power, High-Energy Laser-Solid THz Generation with Foil and Wire Targets

Ultraintense (>10¹⁸ W/cm²) laser–plasma interactions have been found to be efficient (>0.1%) sources of THz radiation using a wide variety of solid targets. The most common THz generation target is a tens-of-mm-thick foil, but more recent work has shown tens-of-mm-radius wires to also be targets of interest for higher laser-THz conversion efficiency. Results from experiments using the joule-class Multi-Terawatt laser and kilojoule-class OMEGA EP laser to generate millijoule and greater THz sources are reported and compared to models of THz production from foil and wire targets. Future uses of these terawatt-class THz sources are discussed with an emphasis on extreme light–matter interactions.