Coherent detection of ultrabroadband electromagnetic pulses using poled polymers

Summary form only given. We demonstrate that poled polymers are an attractive detection medium for the coherent detection of broadband electromagnetic pulses. Of particular importance is the fact that the poled polymer used in this study exhibits a nearly flat spectral response from the far-infrared (/spl sim/3 THz) to the mid-infrared (/spl sim/33 THz). We have demonstrated the detection of femtosecond electromagnetic pulses using electro-optic detection. Appropriate chemical modification of these polymers is expected to extend the detection bandwidth significantly.