Efficient Cherenkov emission of broadband terahertz radiation from an ultrashort laser pulse in a sandwich structure with nonlinear core

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3005987· OSTI ID:21185885

Bodrov, S B ^[1]; Bakunov, M I ^[2]; Hangyo, M ^[3]

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1. Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod 603950 (Russian Federation)
2. University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod 603950 (Russian Federation)
3. Laser Terahertz Division, Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka (Japan)

A scheme for efficient generation of broadband terahertz radiation by a femtosecond laser pulse propagating in a planar sandwichlike structure is proposed. The structure consists of a thin nonlinear core cladded with prisms made of a material with low terahertz absorption. The focused into a line laser pulse propagates in the core as a leaky or waveguide mode and emits Cherenkov wedge of terahertz waves in the cladding. We developed a theory that describes terahertz generation in such a structure and calculated spatial distribution of the generated terahertz field, its energy spectrum and optical-to-terahertz conversion efficiency. The developed theory predicts the conversion efficiency of up to several percent in a 1 cm long and 1 cm wide Si-LiNbO{sub 3}-Si sandwich structure with a 20 {mu}m thick nonlinear layer pumped by 8.5 {mu}J Ti:sapphire laser with pulse duration of 100 fs.

• OSTI ID: 21185885
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 104; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
CHERENKOV RADIATION
CLADDING
ENERGY SPECTRA
LASERS
LAYERS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
NIOBATES
NONLINEAR OPTICS
OPTICAL PUMPING
PRISMS
PULSES
SAPPHIRE
SILICON
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
WAVEGUIDES