Title :
Compact Fiber-Pumped Terahertz Source Based on Difference Frequency Mixing in ZGP
Author :
Creeden, Daniel ; McCarthy, John C. ; Ketteridge, Peter A. ; Southward, Timothy ; Schunemann, Peter G. ; Komiak, James J. ; Dove, Webster ; Chicklis, Evan P.
Author_Institution :
BAE Syst. Electron. & Integrated Solutions, Nashua
Abstract :
We have demonstrated a novel terahertz source based on dual-wavelength amplification in polarization maintaining Yb- doped fiber and frequency mixing in a zinc germanium phosphide (ZGP) crystal. The system consists of two orthogonally polarized signals, whose difference frequency is in the terahertz region, amplified in a single all-fiber amplifier chain and mixed in a ZGP crystal to generate high-peak-power terahertz radiation. Currently, 2 mW of average terahertz power (20 W peak, 20 nJ/pulse) has been produced at a repetition rate of 100 kHz and pulsewidths of 1 ns with a conversion efficiency of 0.137%. We have also developed a terahertz mixing model, which coincides well with our experimental data.
Keywords :
germanium compounds; optical fibre amplifiers; optical fibre polarisation; optical frequency conversion; optical materials; optical pumping; submillimetre wave generation; ytterbium; zinc compounds; ZnGeP2; compact fiber-pumped terahertz source; difference frequency mixing; dual-wavelength amplification; efficiency 0.137 percent; orthogonally polarized signals; polarization maintaining fiber; power 2 mW; single all-fiber amplifier chain; terahertz mixing model; time 1 ns; zinc germanium phosphide crystal; Biomedical optical imaging; Fiber nonlinear optics; Frequency; Optical fiber polarization; Optical imaging; Optical mixing; Optical pulses; Optical pumping; Pulse amplifiers; Ultrafast optics; Nonlinear optics; optical fiber amplifiers; optical fiber applications;
Journal_Title :
Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JSTQE.2007.896569
