Line-narrowed, compact and coherent source of widely tunable terahertz radiation

Author

Dunn, M.H. ; Edwards, T.J. ; Stothard, D.J.M. ; Walsh, D. ; Browne, P.G. ; Rae, C.F.

Author_Institution

Sch. of Phys. & Astron., Univ. of St Andrews, St. Andrews

fYear

2007

fDate

2-9 Sept. 2007

Firstpage

613

Lastpage

616

Abstract

Parametric down-conversion techniques provide an effective means for producing terahertz radiation. A novel device, based on an intra-cavity geometry, has been developed that is both compact and widely tunable over the range 1-3 THz. Reduction of the free-running linewidth of this device (typically 50-100 GHz) to <5 GHz accompanied by continuous and smooth tuning over a band extending over 50-100 GHz where this band may be set anywhere within the above tuning range is described. A significant increase in the mean terahertz power generated to >10 muW is attained by increasing the pulse repetition rate up to 350 Hz. Applications in spectroscopy and imaging are discussed.

Keywords

optical frequency conversion; optical parametric oscillators; submillimetre wave generation; THz radiation; coherent source; compact source; intra-cavity geometry; line-narrowed source; parametric down-conversion techniques; terahertz imaging; terahertz spectroscopy; widely tunable terahertz radiation; Frequency conversion; Laser excitation; Laser tuning; Nonlinear optics; Optical mixing; Optical pumping; Pump lasers; Quantum cascade lasers; Solid lasers; Ultrafast optics; Nonlinear optics; Optical frequency conversion; Optical parametric oscillators; Terahertz generation;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Infrared and Millimeter Waves, 2007 and the 2007 15th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics. IRMMW-THz. Joint 32nd International Conference on

Conference_Location

Cardiff

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-1438-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICIMW.2007.4516650

Filename

4516650