Generation of High-Power Terahertz Waves in a Collisional and Magnetized Plasma by Two-Color Femtosecond Laser Beams

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) radiation generation based on a nonlinear induced electron current density in the interaction of two-color femtosecond laser beams with collisional and magnetized plasma is investigated. The nonlinear electron current density that is responsible for THz radiation includes a share from nonlinear ponderomotive force and a part from relativistic term. In this work, relativistic effects along with the effects of variation of interacting plasma density, external magnetic field, and electron collision frequency on THz wave generation have been considered. The reduction of electron collision frequency along with rising in the magnitude of the external magnetic field generates more power without any deformation of radiation patterns. The angular distribution showing the radiation pattern of THz radiation in the forward direction is obtained and the effect of laser pulse second harmonic and variation of electric field on the directivity of generated waves is examined. The change in two-color laser beam intensities both in relativistic and nonrelativistic regimes leads to the generation of THz wave electric fields with different orders of magnitude. The numerical analysis indicated that the utilization of laser pulse second harmonic in a two-color scheme enhances the THz electric field leading to more intense radiation compared to single-color mechanism. The model also shows the effect of external magnetic field and electron collision frequency on the radiation efficiency of THz generation for linear and circular polarizations of two-color laser pulses.