Ultra-energetic THz pulses from a laser-driven particle accelerator

Summary form only given. High peak-power THz sources find many applications in material science, non-linear optics and next generation particle accelerators. We report the experimental realization of a gigawatt (GW) class T-rays from a laser-driven particle accelerator. Laser-driven particle accelerators are one of the well studied and promising methods for the generation of energetic particle beams and radiation extending the whole electromagnetic spectrum. Recent studies have shown that powerful T-rays can also be generated during such an interaction [1]. A conversion efficiency of higher than 10^-3 and a peak power above a GW makes our source the most efficient and powerful THz source known today.