Open AccessTerahertz beam steering using interference of femtosecond optical pulses
Author(s) -
Koji Uematsu,
Ken-ichiro Maki,
Chiko Otani
Publication year - 2012
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.20.022914
Subject(s) - optics , terahertz radiation , femtosecond , beam steering , interference (communication) , grating , superposition principle , main lobe , beam (structure) , materials science , laser , radiation , optoelectronics , antenna (radio) , physics , telecommunications , channel (broadcasting) , quantum mechanics , computer science
A terahertz (THz) beam steering method is demonstrated by applying the characteristic of grating lobe (GL) radiation from a linear array antenna and the interference of femtosecond optical pulses. A photoconductive device is illuminated by two femtosecond laser beams combined at an angle of less than 0.5°. Considering the interference pattern as a THz point source array, THz GL radiation is generated through the superposition of radiation emitted from all point sources and steered by varying the interval of the interference pattern. The THz beam direction could be changed by 20° at 0.93THz by varying the relative incidence angle of the pump beams by 0.033°.