Observation of crossover from intraband to interband nonlinear terahertz optics

Nonlinear optical physics at terahertz frequency

Terahertz (THz) waves have exhibited promising prospects in 6G/7G communications, sensing, nondestructive detection, material modulation, and biomedical applications. With the development of high-power THz sources, more and more nonlinear optical effects at THz frequency and THz-induced nonlinear optical phenomena are investigated. These studies not only show a clear physics picture of electrons, ions, and molecules but also provide many novel applications in sensing, imaging, communications, and aerospace. Here, we review recent developments in THz nonlinear physics and THz-induced nonlinear optical phenomena. This review provides an overview and illustrates examples of how to achieve strong THz nonlinear phenomena and how to use THz waves to achieve nonlinear material modulation.

Pulsed THz radiation under ultrafast optical discharge of vacuum photodiode

In this paper, we first present an experimental demonstration of terahertz radiation pulse generation with energy up to 5 pJ under the electron emission during ultrafast optical discharge of a vacuum photodiode. We use a femtosecond optical excitation of metallic copper photocathode for the generation of ultrashort electron bunch and up to 45 kV/cm external electric field for the photo-emitted electron acceleration. Measurements of terahertz pulses energy as a function of emitted charge density, incidence angle of optical radiation and applied electric field have been provided. Spectral and polarization characteristics of generated terahertz pulses have also been studied. The proposed semi-analytical model and simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics prove the experimental data and allow for the optimization of experimental conditions aimed at flexible control of radiation parameters.

Optical Pump-Terahertz Probe Diagnostics of the Carrier Dynamics in Diamonds

Diamond is a promising material for terahertz applications. In this work, we use a non-invasive optical pump-terahertz probe method to experimentally study the photoinduced carrier dynamics in doped diamond monocrystals and a new diamond-silicon composite. The chemical vapor deposited diamond substrate with embedded silicon microparticles showed two photoinduced carrier lifetimes (short lifetime on the order of 4 ps and long lifetime on the order of 200 ps). The short lifetime is several times less than in boron-doped diamonds and nitrogen-doped diamonds which were grown using a high temperature-high pressure technique. The observed phenomenon is explained by the transport of photoexcited carriers across the silicon-diamond interface, resulting in dual relaxation dynamics. The observed phenomenon could be used for ultrafast flexible terahertz modulation.

Photoconductive terahertz generation in nitrogen-doped single-crystal diamond

The generation of terahertz radiation in a photoconductive emitter based on nitrogen-doped single-crystal diamond was realized for the first time. Under 400 nm femtosecond laser pumping, the performance of diamond antennas with different dopant levels was investigated and compared with a reference ZnSe antenna. Terahertz waveforms and corresponding spectra were measured. A low saturation level for high-nitrogen-containing diamond substrate was revealed. The results indicate the prospects of doped diamond as a material for high-efficiency large-aperture photoconductive antennas.

Efficiency of Photoconductive Terahertz Generation in Nitrogen-Doped Diamonds

The efficiency of the generation of terahertz radiation from nitrogen-doped (∼0.1–100 ppm) diamonds was investigated. The synthetic polycrystalline and monocrystalline diamond substrates were pumped by a 400 nm femtosecond laser and tested for the photoconductive emitter operation. The dependency of the emitted THz power on the intensity of the optical excitation was measured. The nitrogen concentrations of the diamonds involved were measured from the optical absorbance, which was found to crucially depend on the synthesis technique. The observed correlation between the doping level and the level of the performance of diamond-based antennas demonstrates the prospects of doped diamond as a material for highly efficient large-aperture photoconductive antennas.

Systematic investigation of terahertz wave generation from liquid water lines

Understanding the process of terahertz (THz) wave generation from liquid water is crucial for further developing liquid THz sources. We present a systematic investigation of THz wave generated from laser-irradiated water lines. We show that water line in the diameter range of 0.1-0.2 mm generates the strongest THz wave, and THz frequency red shift is observed when diameter of the water line increases. The pump pulse energy dependence is decoupled from self-focusing effect by compensating the focal point displacement. As the pump pulse energy increases, saturation effect in THz peak electric field is observed, which can be mainly attributed to the intensity clamping effect inside the plasma and have never been reported previously, using water line or water film as the THz source. The proposed mechanism for saturation is supported by an independent measurement of laser pulse spectrum broadening. This work may help to further understand the laser-liquid interaction in THz generation process.

Transient optical non-linearity in p-Si induced by a few cycle extreme THz field

We study the impact of a few cycle extreme terahertz (THz) radiation (the field strength E_THz ∼1-15 MV/cm is well above the DC-field breakdown threshold) on a p-doped Si wafer. Pump-probe measurements of the second harmonic of a weak infrared probe were done at different THz field strengths. The second harmonic yield has an unusual temporal behavior and does not follow the common instantaneous response, ∝ETHz2. These findings were attributed to: (i) the lattice strain by the ponderomotive force of the extreme THz pulse at the maximal THz field strength below 6 MV/cm and (ii) the modulation of the THz field-induced impact ionization rate at the optical probe frequency (due to the modulation of the free carriers' drift kinetic energy from the probe field) at the THz field strength above 6-8 MV/cm.

Multiple Filamentation Effects on THz Radiation Pattern from Laser Plasma in Air

An experimental study of few filaments interaction impact on the terahertz radiation pattern has demonstrated that interaction of two close propagating beams leads to formation of a superfilament-like structure with on-axis terahertz yield. Mutual delay between two beamlets tilts the output intensity front of THz emission.

Impact Ionization Induced by Terahertz Radiation in HgTe Quantum Wells of Critical Thickness

We report on the observation of terahertz (THz) radiation induced band-to-band impact ionization in HgTe quantum well (QW) structures of critical thickness, which are characterized by a nearly linear energy dispersion. The THz electric field drives the carriers initializing electron-hole pair generation. The carrier multiplication is observed for photon energies less than the energy gap under the condition that the product of the radiation angular frequency ω and momentum relaxation time τ l larger than unity. In this case, the charge carriers acquire high energies solely because of collisions in the presence of a high-frequency electric field. The developed microscopic theory shows that the probability of the light-induced impact ionization is proportional to exp ( - E 0 2 / E 2 ) , with the radiation electric field amplitude E and the characteristic field parameter E 0. As observed in experiment, it exhibits a strong frequency dependence for ω τ ≫ 1 characterized by the characteristic field E 0 linearly increasing with the radiation frequency ω.

Terahertz beam spot size measurements by a CCD camera

We present the experimental data on the direct measurements of spatial distribution of the terahertz (THz) pulse intensity profile using a commercial silicon-based charge-coupled device (CCD) camera in the spectral range from 1-3 THz. A method to measure the dimensions of a high-intensity THz radiation beam in the focal plane using the CCD camera is proposed and experimentally verified.

Organic Crystals for THz Photonics

Organic crystals with second-order optical nonlinearity feature very high and ultra-fast optical nonlinearities and are therefore attractive for various photonics applications. During the last decade, they have been found particularly attractive for terahertz (THz) photonics. This is mainly due to the very intense and ultra-broadband THz-wave generation possible with these crystals. We review recent progress and challenges in the development of organic crystalline materials for THz-wave generation and detection applications. We discuss their structure, intrinsic properties, and advantages compared to inorganic alternatives. The characteristic properties of the most widely employed organic crystals at present, such as DAST, DSTMS, OH1, HMQ-TMS, and BNA are analyzed and compared. We summarize the most important principles for THz-wave generation and detection, as well as organic THz-system configurations based on either difference-frequency generation or optical rectification. In addition, we give state-of-the-art examples of very intense and ultra-broadband THz systems that rely on organic crystals. Finally, we present some recent breakthrough demonstrations in nonlinear THz photonics enabled by very intense organic crystalline THz sources, as well as examples of THz spectroscopy and THz imaging using organic crystals as THz sources for various scientific and technological applications.