Open AccessBackward terahertz radiation from intense laser-solid interactions
Author(s) -
Chun Li,
Guoqian Liao,
Mu-Lin Zhou,
Fei Du,
Jing Ma,
Yutong Li,
Weimin Wang,
Zheng-Ming Sheng,
Liming Chen,
Jie Zhang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.24.004010
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , radiation , laser , optics , terahertz spectroscopy and technology , plasma , radiant energy , physics , electron , materials science , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics
We report a systematic study on backward terahertz (THz) radiation generation from laser-solid interactions by changing a variety of laser/plasma parameters. We demonstrate a high-energy (with an energy flux density reaching 80 μJ/sr), broadband (>10 THz) plasma-based radiation source. The radiation energy is mainly distributed either in the >10 THz or <3 THz regions. A radial surface current formed by the lateral transport of low-energy electrons (LEE) is believed to be responsible for the radiation in the high-THz region (>10 THz), while high-energy surface fast electrons (SFE) accelerated along the target surface mainly contribute to lower frequency (<3 THz) radiation. The unifying explanation could be applied to backward THz radiation generation from solid targets with presence of relative small preplasmas.