Premium
Optical THz‐wave generation with periodically‐inverted GaAs
Author(s) -
Vodopyanov K.L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
laser and photonics reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.778
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1863-8899
pISSN - 1863-8880
DOI - 10.1002/lpor.200710028
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , optical rectification , monochromatic color , femtosecond , optoelectronics , optics , materials science , energy conversion efficiency , nonlinear optics , laser , physics
We overview methods of THz‐wave generation using frequency down‐conversion in GaAs with periodically‐inverted crystalline orientation. First, we compare different nonlinear‐optical materials suitable for THz generation, analyze THz generation process in quasi‐phase‐matched crystals and consider theoretical limits of optical‐to‐THz conversion. Then, we review single‐pass optical rectification experiments with femtosecond pump pulses, performed in periodically‐inverted GaAs, where monochromatic THz output tunable in the range 0.9–3 THz was produced. Finally, we describe a novel approach to create a compact highly efficient tunable (0.5–3.5 THz) room temperature monochromatic THz source, based on the concept of intracavity THz generation via resonantly‐enhanced difference frequency mixing. This approach allowed generating of 1 mW of average THz power, potentially scalable to 10–100 mW.