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Multibranch pulse synthesis and electro-optic detection of subcycle multi-terahertz electric fields
Optics Letters
|November 16, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a new method for creating intense, phase-locked multi-terahertz waveforms using optical rectification. This technique generates custom electric field waveforms for advanced optics and electronics applications.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Generating intense, phase-locked multi-terahertz (THz) waveforms is crucial for advanced applications in nonlinear optics and electronics.
- Existing methods often face limitations in spectral bandwidth, waveform control, and intensity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a robust and compact pulse synthesis scheme for generating intense, phase-locked subcycle multi-terahertz waveforms.
- To demonstrate a method for creating custom-tailored electric field waveforms with broad spectral coverage.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing ultrabroadband laser fundamentals split into two branches.
- Employing optical rectification in Gallium Selenide (GaSe) and Lithium Gallium Disulfide (LiGaS2) crystals at the group velocity matching point.
- Coherent combination of generated pulses and electro-optic sampling for waveform characterization.
Main Results:
- Achieved a continuous multi-terahertz spectrum covering 1.5 optical octaves.
- Generated a 0.8-cycle electric field waveform with peak fields of 15 kV/cm.
- Demonstrated a repetition rate of 0.4 MHz.
Conclusions:
- The presented scheme is robust, compact, multiplexable, and power scalable.
- This technology enables the generation of strong-field custom-tailored waveforms for nonlinear optics and light wave electronics.
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