Open AccessCherenkov emission of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons from a superluminal optical spot on a structured metal surface
Author(s) -
М. И. Бакунов,
M. V. Tsarev,
Masanori Hangyo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.009323
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , optics , surface plasmon polariton , cherenkov radiation , surface plasmon , laser , materials science , femtosecond , terahertz spectroscopy and technology , optoelectronics , polariton , superluminal motion , plasmon , physics , astronomy , detector
We propose to launch terahertz surface plasmon polaritons on a structured metal surface by using a femtosecond laser pulse obliquely incident on a strip of an electro-optic material deposited on the surface. The laser pulse creates a nonlinear polarization that moves along the strip with a superluminal velocity and emits surface terahertz waves via the Cherenkov radiation mechanism. We calculate the radiated fields and frequency distribution of the radiated energy for a grooved perfect-conductor surface with a GaAs strip illuminated by Ti:sapphire laser. This technique can be used to perform surface terahertz spectroscopy.