Yb:YAG thin-disk chirped pulse amplification laser system for intense terahertz pulse generation

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Optics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Terahertz (THz) pulse generation is crucial for various scientific applications.
• Developing high-energy, high-repetition-rate laser systems is essential for efficient THz production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-repetition rate picosecond laser system for intense THz pulse generation.
• To investigate THz pulse generation using optical rectification in Mg-doped LiNbO3.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a chirped pulse amplification laser system with a Yb:YAG thin-disk amplifier.
• Achieved 1.3 ps pulse duration with a diffraction grating pair compressor.
• Employed optical rectification in Mg-doped LiNbO3 crystal for THz generation.

Main Results:

• Developed a 1 kHz repetition rate picosecond laser system.
• Obtained >10 mJ pulse energy and 1.2 nm spectral bandwidth at room temperature.
• Generated 0.3 THz peak frequency THz pulses with 4 µJ energy.

Conclusions:

• The developed picosecond laser system is effective for intense THz pulse generation.
• Optical rectification in Mg-doped LiNbO3 is a viable method for generating high-energy THz pulses.
• This advancement supports applications requiring high-intensity THz sources.