Abstract

When combined with a nonlinear waveguide crystal, Cherenkov phase matching allows for highly effective generation of high power and broadband terahertz (THz) waves. Using a ridged Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3) waveguide coupled with a specially designed silicon lens, we successfully generated THz waves with intensity of approximately three orders of magnitude stronger than those from conventional photoconductive antenna. The broadband spectrum was from 0.1 THz to 7 THz with a maximum dynamic range of 80 dB. The temporal shape of time domain pulse is a regular single cycle which could be used for high depth resolution time of flight tomography. The generated THz wave can also be easily monitored by compact room-temperature THz camera, enabling us to determine the spatial characteristics of the THz propagation.

Highlights

  • Remarkable advances in terahertz (THz) technologies have been made over recent decades

  • The waveguide crystal, which was made from magnesium-oxide-doped lithium niobate (MgO:LiNbO3), had dimensions 3 μm × 7 μm × 10 mm.[20]

  • We demonstrated highly effective THz wave generation using the Cherenkov phase matching method and a ridged LiNbO3 waveguide coupled with a Si lens

Read more

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Remarkable advances in terahertz (THz) technologies have been made over recent decades. One is the PCA,[7,8] and the other is based on non-linear optical (NLO) crystals, which allows for the optical rectification of femtosecond laser pulses.[10,11,12,13,14,15,16] PCAs are well known to emit THz waves, there are problems with using this type of source, as this type of source has a low laser induced damage threshold. This makes it difficult to generate high power THz waves. The generated THz wave has a broadband spectrum extending from 0.1 THz to 7 THz with a maximum dynamic range (DR) of 80 dB

LiNbO3 ridge waveguide crystal with a specially designed silicon lens
Output power of the THz waves from LiNbO3 waveguide
Distribution of the THz waves generated by the LiNbO3 waveguide
Spatial pattern of propagating THz waves
Enhancement of dynamic range and frequency of THz spectrum
SUMMARY
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call