Intense narrow band terahertz generation via type-II DFG in ZnTe

ORAL

Abstract

We developed a tabletop source of intense, tunable, and narrowband THz pulses using difference frequency generation (DFG) in a nonlinear crystal. The light source of the experiment was 800-nm, 100-fs pulses from a 1-kHz Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier (Coherent Inc., Legend). The main portion of the optical power was used to generate strong narrowband THz pulses. A linear chirp was introduced to stretch the optical pump pulses to $\sim $4 ps. An optical setup split the pump beam into two, introduced a relative time delay, made them orthogonally polarized, and eventually recombined them to co-propagate. The two linearly-chirped and orthogonally-polarized optical beams produced narrowband THz radiation via type-II DFG in a 1-mm ZnTe crystal. The THz pulse energy was in the range of a few nJ, and the pulse duration was $\sim $3 ps. The maximum amplitude of the electric field reached $\sim $10 kV/cm. The central frequency of the spectrum is continuously tunable from 0.5 to 2.5 THz with a bandwidth of 0.2-0.5 THz. This technique can be easily integrated into time-resolved studies on terahertz-induced nonlinear effects with a subpicosecond resolution limited only by the transform-limited optical pulse duration.

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Authors

  • Joe Tomaino

  • Andy Jameson

    Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-6507

  • Anthony Colaprete

    Triumf, Texas A\&M University, Tel Aviv University, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, Dept. of Physics, SFU, BC, Canada, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Korea, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-6507, Imago Scientific Instruments Corp., Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6 Canada, Linfield College, PNNL, University of Washington, University of Victoria, IUPUI1, Wabash, IUPUI2, Environmental Biotechnology Institute, University of Idaho, Moscow ID 83843, Physics Department, University of Idaho, Moscow ID 83843, Environmental Biotechnology Institute, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, Physics Department, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, TRIUMF / UBC, 5CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, Universit\'e Paris 11, University of Manitoba, Texas A\&M, U. Manitoba, Tel Aviv U., U. British Columbia, Universidad de Pa\'is Vasco, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-0903, University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University, NASA Ames Research Center

  • Anthony Colaprete

    Triumf, Texas A\&M University, Tel Aviv University, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, Dept. of Physics, SFU, BC, Canada, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Korea, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-6507, Imago Scientific Instruments Corp., Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6 Canada, Linfield College, PNNL, University of Washington, University of Victoria, IUPUI1, Wabash, IUPUI2, Environmental Biotechnology Institute, University of Idaho, Moscow ID 83843, Physics Department, University of Idaho, Moscow ID 83843, Environmental Biotechnology Institute, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, Physics Department, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, TRIUMF / UBC, 5CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, Universit\'e Paris 11, University of Manitoba, Texas A\&M, U. Manitoba, Tel Aviv U., U. British Columbia, Universidad de Pa\'is Vasco, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-0903, University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University, NASA Ames Research Center

  • Anthony Colaprete

    Triumf, Texas A\&M University, Tel Aviv University, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, Dept. of Physics, SFU, BC, Canada, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Korea, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-6507, Imago Scientific Instruments Corp., Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6 Canada, Linfield College, PNNL, University of Washington, University of Victoria, IUPUI1, Wabash, IUPUI2, Environmental Biotechnology Institute, University of Idaho, Moscow ID 83843, Physics Department, University of Idaho, Moscow ID 83843, Environmental Biotechnology Institute, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, Physics Department, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, TRIUMF / UBC, 5CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, Universit\'e Paris 11, University of Manitoba, Texas A\&M, U. Manitoba, Tel Aviv U., U. British Columbia, Universidad de Pa\'is Vasco, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-0903, University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University, NASA Ames Research Center