Plastic fiber design for THz generation through wavelength translation

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Terahertz (THz) radiation generation is crucial for various scientific and technological applications.
• Existing THz sources often face limitations in efficiency, tunability, or compactness.
• All-fiber THz sources offer potential advantages in terms of integration and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To theoretically design and demonstrate an all-fiber terahertz (THz) radiation source.
• To explore the use of nonlinear parametric processes in microstructured-core double-clad plastic fiber (MC-DCPF) for THz generation.
• To achieve efficient THz output at approximately 3 THz.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical design of a microstructured-core double-clad plastic fiber (MC-DCPF).
• Utilizing a nonlinear parametric process with a high-power CO2 laser as the pump and a CO laser as the seed.
• Optimizing fiber dispersion and nonlinear properties to satisfy phase-matching conditions.
• Simulating the THz generation efficiency and bandwidth.

Main Results:

• A 65-m-long optimized MC-DCPF is proposed for THz generation.
• A 3-dB phase-matching bandwidth of 2.13 GHz is predicted at a THz frequency of ~3 THz.
• A maximum power conversion efficiency exceeding 1% is achievable, even considering material loss.

Conclusions:

• The proposed MC-DCPF is a viable platform for developing efficient all-fiber THz radiation sources.
• Tailoring fiber properties enables precise control over THz generation parameters.
• This approach represents a significant step towards practical and integrated THz systems.