Intense THz Radiation Research Articles

Powerful laser-produced quasi-half-cycle THz pulses.

The Maxwell equations-based 3D-analytical solution for the terahertz (THz) half-cycle electromagnetic wave transition radiation pulse has been found. This solution describes generation and propagation of transition radiation into free space from laser-produced relativistic electron bunch which crosses a target-vacuum interface as a result of ultrashort laser pulse interaction with a thin high-conductivity target. The analytical solution found complements the theory of laser initiated transition radiation. It describes the THz wave half-cycle pulse at the arbitrary distance from a target surface including near-field zone rather than its standard far-field characterization. The analytical research has also been supplemented with the 3D simulations using the finite-difference time-domain method, which makes it possible for description of much wider spatial domain as compared to that from the particle-in-cell approach. The presented result sheds light fundamentally on the interference of the electron bunch field and the generated THz field of broadband transition radiation from laser-plasma interaction. The latter is studied for a long time in the experiments with solid density plasma and the theory developed may inspire to targeted measurements and investigations of unique super intense half-cycle THz radiation waves near the laser target.

First observation of quasi–monochromatic optical Cherenkov radiation in a dispersive medium (quartz)

The present article summarizes the results of a study of optical Cherenkov radiation (ChR) spectral properties both theoretically and experimentally. This type of radiation has a continuous spectral distribution which allows to use it in different fields of physics as for charged particle identification or generation of intense THz radiation. By exploiting the frequency dependency of the target permittivity it is possible to observe quasi–monochromatic radiation. A theoretical model based on a surface current approach is presented which allows to predict angular and spectral properties of ChR. In order to test the model predictions, an experiment was carried out using 855 MeV electrons and a 0.2 mm thick quartz target as radiator which could be rotated with respect to the beam axis. Quasi–monochromatic ChR was observed with a spectrometer placed at a fix observation angle, and tilting the radiator crystal offered the possibility to tune the radiation wavelength. The monochromatization effect is attributed to the frequency dependency of the quartz permittivity, and taking into account the refraction law for emitted ChR crossing the boundary between radiator target and vacuum it is possible to deduce a dispersion relation which connects ChR wavelength and outgoing photon angle - or in an alternative way ChR wavelength and target tilt angle for fixed observation angle. The dispersion relation is clearly confirmed in the experiment, and the model predictions show a satisfactory agreement with the measurements. Exploiting the ChR monochromatization mechanism might offer versatile tools which can find applications for example in beam diagnostics at modern particle accelerators.

Simultaneous elliptically and radially polarized THz from one-color laser-induced plasma filament

THz-based technologies and research applications have seen a rapid increment in recent period together with the development of novel radiation sources based both on relativistic electrons and laser techniques. In this framework, laser-induced plasma filament plays an important role in generating intense and broadband THz radiation. Although many attentions have been paid to THz emission from two-color plasma filaments, one-color plasma emission has been scarcely investigated. In particular, the polarization state of one-color THz emission is still controversial due to the limitations of the existing THz detection techniques, which are incapable of simultaneously detecting elliptically and radially polarized THz radiation. In this manuscript, we develop a novel detection method and unambiguously demonstrate for the first time that one-color laser-induced plasma filament simultaneously emits elliptically and radially polarized THz radiation. These polarization states suggest that the generation mechanism results from electric quadrupole, showing a new route for producing more complex polarization states and THz vortex beams.

Terahertz radiation may not alter rat basophilic leukemia cell membrane permeability to propidium iodide

Terahertz radiation (THz) technology is fast-growing, with applications in sensing, security, monitoring and pharmaceutical industries. Since it is non-invasive, THz has been used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in medicine but its specific effects on biological systems is still largely under-studied. THz has been used to image tissues and cells mainly because it allows for identification of morphological features without the need for fluorescent or radioactive labels, but the potential effects of high intensities of THz radiation are currently not well understood. One of the hypotheses that has been proposed for possible effects of THz on living cells, is that it disrupts the cell membrane and induces increased permeability. To test this hypothesis we exposed a rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-2H3) to non-thermal intense THz radiation (duration, dose, etc) and observed the internalization of propidium iodide, a fluorescent intercalating agent that binds to DNA. We did not observe any changes in RBL-2H3 fluorescence following exposure to these intense THz pulses suggesting that exposure of RBL-2H3 to THz radiation may not increase their membrane permeability. These experiments were preliminary and further optimization and analysis is required before we can make definitive conclusions. However, our preliminary observations have set a baseline of RBL-2H3 internalization of propidium iodide, show that it is possible to expose RBL-2H3 cells to THz radiation using our configuration, and set the stage for future experiments.

Noninvasive bunch length measurements exploiting Cherenkov diffraction radiation

We present the observation and the detailed investigation of coherent Cherenkov diffraction radiation (CChDR) in terms of spectral-angular characteristics. Electromagnetic simulations have been performed to optimize the design of a prismatic dielectric radiator and the performance of a detection system with the aim of providing longitudinal beam diagnostics. Successful experimental validations have been organized on the CLEAR and the CLARA facilities based at CERN and Daresbury laboratory respectively. With ps to sub-ps long electron bunches, the emitted radiation spectra extend up to the THz frequency range. Bunch length measurements based on CChDR have been compared to longitudinal bunch profiles obtained using a radio frequency deflecting cavity or coherent transition radiation (CTR). The retrieval of the temporal profile of both Gaussian and non-Gaussian bunches has also been demonstrated. The proposed detection scheme paves the way to a new kind of beam instrumentation, simple and compact for monitoring short bunches of charged particles, particularly well-adapted to novel accelerator technologies, such as dielectric and plasma accelerators. Finally, CChDR could be used for generating intense THz radiation pulses at the MW level in existing radiation facilities, providing broader opportunities for the user community.

Coherent THz transition radiation for polarization imaging experiments

THz radiation is reflected by conducting materials and has the capability to penetrate a wide variety of non-conducting materials. With such abilities, THz radiation has great potential for imaging applications, e.g., screening and inspection for packaged electronics chips and electronics circuit boards. High intensity THz radiation have been produced by the accelerator-based radiation source at the Plasma and Beam Physics Research Facility, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. The coherent THz transition radiation was generated from short electron bunches of around 8 MeV and an Al-foil tilted by 45°. Characterization of the backward transition radiation properties was conducted, including spatial distribution, polarization and radiation spectrum. The THz radiation was then used to create THz images of a print circuit board by reflective THz imaging setup. THz imaging with polarized transition radiation is demonstrated. With selected radiation polarization, reflective THz imaging can be improved.

Generation of Terahertz Pulsed Radiation with Photoconductive Antennas Based of Low-Temperature-Grown Gallium Arsenide and Its Applications

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Terahertz generation from laser-driven ultrafast current propagation along a wire target.

Generation of intense coherent THz radiation by obliquely incidenting an intense laser pulse on a wire target is studied using particle-in-cell simulation. The laser-accelerated fast electrons are confined and guided along the surface of the wire, which then acts like a current-carrying line antenna and under appropriate conditions can emit electromagnetic radiation in the THz regime. For a driving laser intensity ∼3×10^{18}W/cm^{2} and pulse duration ∼10 fs, a transient current above 10 KA is produced on the wire surface. The emission-cone angle of the resulting ∼0.15 mJ (∼58 GV/m peak electric field) THz radiation is ∼30^{∘}. The conversion efficiency of laser-to-THz energy is ∼0.75%. A simple analytical model that well reproduces the simulated result is presented.

Fast mapping of terahertz bursting thresholds and characteristics at synchrotron light sources

Dedicated optics with extremely short electron bunches enable synchrotron light sources to generate intense coherent THz radiation. The high degree of spatial compression in this so-called low-alpha optics entails a complex longitudinal dynamics of the electron bunches, which can be probed studying the fluctuations in the emitted terahertz radiation caused by the micro-bunching instability ("bursting"). This article presents a "quasi-instantaneous" method for measuring the bursting characteristics by simultaneously collecting and evaluating the information from all bunches in a multi-bunch fill, reducing the measurement time from hours to seconds. This speed-up allows systematic studies of the bursting characteristics for various accelerator settings within a single fill of the machine, enabling a comprehensive comparison of the measured bursting thresholds with theoretical predictions by the bunched-beam theory. This paper introduces the method and presents first results obtained at the ANKA synchrotron radiation facility.

Saturation of photoresponse to intense THz radiation in AlGaN/GaN HEMT detector

We report on the photoresponse of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors to the THz radiation of low (15 mW/cm2) and high (up to 40 kW/cm2) intensities. We show that the response can be described by the Dyakonov-Shur theory in the whole range of radiation intensity. At low intensities, the photoresponse is linear in radiation intensity. Under intense laser radiation, we observe a saturation at intensities >20 kW/cm2. We explain our results by the change of the channel conductivity under the influence of strong THz field. This mechanism of photoresponse saturation, which is due to the mobility decrease in high ac electric field, should exist for any type of field effect transistor detectors.

THz generation by two-color femtosecond filaments with complex polarization states: four-wave mixing versus photocurrent contributions

Two-color filamenation in gases is known to produce intense and broadband THz radiation. There are two physical mechanisms responsible for the THz generation in this scheme: four-wave mixing and emission from the induced plasma currents. The case when the main and second harmonic are linearly polarized is well studied including the impact from each of the above mechanisms. However, for the cases when the two-color fields have complex polarization states the role of the four-wave mixing and plasma mechanisms in the formation of the THz polarization is still under-explored. Here we use both the four-wave mixing and photocurrent models in order to consider the THz generation by two-color fields with arbitrary polarizations. We show that under specific polarizations of the two-color field components it is possible to determine which of the mechanisms is responsible for the THz polarization formation.

Efficient extraction of high power THz radiation generated by an ultra-relativistic electron beam in a dielectric loaded waveguide

We have measured an intense THz radiation produced by a sub-picosecond, relativistic electron bunch in a dielectric loaded waveguide. For efficient THz pulse extraction, the dielectric loaded waveguide end was cut at an angle. For an appropriate choice of angle cut, such antenna converts the TM01 mode excited in the waveguide into a free-space fundamental Gauss-Hermite mode propagating at an angle with respect to the electron beam trajectory. Simulations show that more than 95% of energy can be extracted using such a simple approach. More than 40 oscillations of about 170 ps long 0.48 THz signal were explicitly measured with an interferometer and 10 μJ of energy per pulse, as determined with a calorimetric energy meter, were delivered outside the electron beamline to an area suitable for THz experiments.

Enhancement of Coherent THz Smith-Purcell Radiation by Resonance Overlapping

Frequency-locked coherent Smith-Purcell Radiation (SPR) is emitted when a train of pre-bunched electron beam passes close to the surface of a metallic grating, which develops an energy density spectrum restricted to harmonics of the bunching frequency. For the lamellar grating with narrow grooves, the radiation spectrum from a single electron can also have a feature of narrow band, which is related to the grating structure and the beam energy. The combination of them is proposed in this paper. By properly choosing the parameters, the peak frequency of single electron radiation can be overlapped with the harmonics of the bunching frequency of the electron bunch train, leading to the generation of extremely intense narrow-band THz radiation.

Asymmetric dual axis energy recovery linac for ultrahigh flux sources of coherent x-ray and THz radiation: Investigations towards its ultimate performance

In order for sources of coherent high brightness and intensity THz and X-Ray radiation to be accepted by university or industrial R&D laboratories, truly compact, high current and efficient particle accelerators are required. The demand for compactness and efficiency can be satisfied by superconducting RF energy recovery linear accelerators (SRF ERL) allowing effectively minimising the footprint and maximising the efficiency of the system. However such set-ups are affected by regenerative beam-break up (BBU) instabilities which limit the beam current and may terminate the beam transport as well as energy recuperation. In this paper we suggest and discuss a SRF ERL with asymmetric configuration of resonantly coupled accelerating and decelerating cavities. In this type of SRF ERL an electron bunch is passing through accelerating and decelerating cavities once and, as we show in this case, the regenerative BBU instability can be minimised allowing high currents to be achieved. We study the BBU start current in such an asymmetric ERL via analytical and numerical models and discuss the properties of such a system.

Analogues of Vavilov–Cherenkov radiation in an array of noninteracting nanotubes

We consider the mechanism for generating radiation whose source is formed by surface currents modulated in the variable z - vt in an array of noninteracting parallel nanotubes. The nanotubes are oriented perpendicular to the axis Oz, and the velocity v exceeds the velocity of light in the medium. On the qualitative level, the radiation process under study is analogous to Vavilov–Cherenkov radiation by a system of dipoles. We show that intense SHF and THz radiation can be generated using this method. We estimate the magnitude of millimetric radiation obtainable using an array of nanotubes.

ELBE Center for High-Power Radiation Sources

In the ELBE Center for High-Power Radiation Sources, the superconducting linear electron accelerator ELBE, serving two free electron lasers, sources for intense coherent THz radiation, mono-energetic positrons, electrons, γ-rays, a neutron time-of-flight system as well as two synchronized ultra-short pulsed Petawatt laser systems are collocated. The characteristics of these beams make the ELBE center a unique research instrument for a variety of external users in fields ranging from material science over nuclear physics to cancer research, as well as scientists of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).

Analogue of Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation in a medium based on an array of noninteracting nanotubes

We consider the mechanism for generating radiation whose source surface currents are modulated in the variable z - vt in an array of noninteracting nanotubes. The velocity v must be equal to or larger than the light velocity in the medium. The process is qualitatively analogous to Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation. We show that intense SHF and THz radiation can be generated using such a method.

Generation of quasiequally spaced ultrashort microbunches in a photocathode rf gun

A photocathode rf gun can generate trains of THz subpicosecond electron bunches by illuminating the cathode with trains of laser pulses, but it suffers from the increasing charge in the beam. The THz structure blurs and tends to disappear when the longitudinal space charge forces begin to play a significant role in the beam evolution. In this paper, we propose a scheme to restrain the space charge forces by expanding the transverse size of the laser pulses to reduce the charge density and adopting a multicell gun to increase the beam energy. Thus, quasiequally spaced ultrashort microbunches with relatively high charges can be generated according to our studies. Postacceleration can be used to freeze the longitudinal phase space dynamics. The proposed scheme is in principle able to generate intense multi-color narrow-band THz radiation and offers a promising way towards the tunable intense narrow-band THz sources.

Analytic calculation of the electric field of a coherent THz pulse

Accelerators can serve as sources for intense THz radiation by producing sub-ps long electron bunches, which generate synchrotron radiation coherently in the THz regime. In this paper, we present an analytic method to calculate the electric field pulse emitted by an electron bunch with arbitrary bunch shape. Our method is applied to a Gaussian bunch as well as a complex bunch profile resulting from a nonlinear beam dynamics simulation.

Subpicosecond Bunch Train Production for a Tunable mJ Level THz Source

A strong energy modulation in an electron bunch passing through a dielectric-lined waveguide was recently demonstrated in Antipov etal., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 144801 (2012). In this Letter, we demonstrate a successful conversion of this energy modulation into a beam density modulation, and the formation of a series of microbunches with a subpicosecond periodicity by means of magnetic optics (chicane). A strong coherent transition radiation signal produced by the microbunches is obtained and the tunability of its carrier frequency in the 0.68-0.9THz range by regulating the energy chirp in the incoming electron bunch is demonstrated using infrared interferometry. A tabletop, compact, tunable, and narrowband source of intense THz radiation based on this technology is proposed.