Open AccessTerahertz generation from ZnTe optically pumped above and below the bandgap
Author(s) -
Di Zhai,
Émilie Hérault,
Frédéric Garet,
JeanLouis Coutaz
Publication year - 2021
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.421282
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , optical rectification , femtosecond , materials science , band gap , optoelectronics , optics , laser , nonlinear optics , photon energy , rectification , photon , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
We report on the generation of THz waves through optical rectification in ZnTe of femtosecond laser pulses whose photon energy is tuned from below to above the ZnTe bandgap energy. The THz signal exhibits a pronounced peak at the bandgap energy, at THz frequencies for which losses in ZnTe remain small. This peak is likely due to the resonance of the ZnTe nonlinear susceptibility in the vicinity of the bandgap.