Open AccessPropagation of broadband THz pulses: effects of dispersion, diffraction and time-varying nonlinear refraction
Author(s) -
Payman Rasekh,
Mohammad Saliminabi,
Murat Yıldırım,
Robert W. Boyd,
JeanMichel Ménard,
Ksenia Dolgaleva
Publication year - 2020
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.381150
Subject(s) - optics , terahertz radiation , paraxial approximation , dispersion (optics) , diffraction , kerr effect , physics , self phase modulation , refraction , nonlinear system , broadband , pulse (music) , nonlinear optics , laser , detector , beam (structure) , quantum mechanics
We theoretically investigate the propagation of broadband single-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses through a medium with a nonlinear optical response. Our model takes into account non-paraxial effects, self-focusing and diffraction, as well as dispersion, in both the linear and nonlinear optical regimes. We investigate the contribution of non-instantaneous Kerr-type nonlinearity to the overall instantaneous and delayed Kerr effect at the THz frequencies. We show how increasing the nonlinear relaxation time and its dispersion modifies the THz pulse after the propagation through a transparent medium. We also discuss the effect of linear dispersion on self-action during the pulse propagation.