THz generation by a two-color pulse in prealigned molecules

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.82.053416· OSTI ID:21528676

Jian, Wu; Yuqi, Tong; Min, Li; Haifeng, Pan; Heping, Zeng ^[1]

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1. State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062 (China)

We demonstrate that the THz generation in air from a two-color pulse, composed of the fundamental and second-harmonic waves, can be coherently controlled by field-free molecular alignment. By tuning its time delay to properly match various molecular alignment revivals, the THz generation from the two-color pulse can be promoted or decreased due to the spatial cross-(de)focusing effect and the alignment-dependent ionization probabilities of the prealigned diatomic molecules in air. For the two-color pulse of orthogonally polarized fundamental and second-harmonic waves, the polarization of the generated THz radiation can be controlled by the field-free molecular alignment, which functions as a transient dynamic wave plate for the two-color pulse with different phase velocities for the orthogonally polarized field components. The plasma effect on the THz generation of the two-color pulse is also observed, leading to additional amplitude and polarization control of the THz radiation.

• OSTI ID: 21528676
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 82, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.82.053416; (c) 2010 The American Physical Society; ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AIR
ALIGNMENT
AMPLITUDES
COLOR
CONTROL
FOCUSING
IONIZATION
MOLECULES
PHASE VELOCITY
PLASMA
POLARIZATION
PROBABILITY
PULSES
TIME DELAY
FLUIDS
GASES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
VELOCITY