Efficient generation of short terahertz pulses via stimulated Raman adiabatic passage

We have analyzed the efficiency of coherent scattering of infrared radiation in molecular gases for the production of intense, short terahertz (THz) pulses by using stimulated Raman adiabatic passage for the preparation of coherence. We show that coherently driven molecular media potentially yield strong, controllable, short pulses of THz radiation. The pulses have energies ranging from several nanojoules to microjoules and time durations from several femtoseconds to nanoseconds at room temperature.