Terahertz radiation in the interaction of a focused laser pulse with plasma

Abstract

The theory of terahertz (THz) wave emission at the oblique incidence of a focused s-polarized laser pulse on the boundary of a rarefied plasma is developed. The angular, spectral and energy characteristics of the THz signal as a function of the focal spot size and the incidence angle of laser radiation, as well as the plasma density, are investigated. It is shown that the THz radiation energy increases with a decrease in the laser pulse focal spot and has the maximum value when the tightly focused laser pulse is incident at the angle of total reflection on the plasma boundary.