Ultra-intense THz Photonics and Beyond
Abstract
The THz frequency band (0.3 – 10 THz) is a spectral window with rich scientific opportunities that is, at present, stunted by limited technology. The region has long been considered the last remaining scientific gap in the electromagnetic spectrum, which is underdeveloped but ripe for exploitation. This field shows great promise for a variety of reasons including small-scale electron accelerators, contact-less probes, high-field nonlinear optics, and broadband material characterization. In this proposal, we will investigate THz wave emitters under ultra-intense laser pulse excitation. Since the use of short-pulse laser excitation on photoconductors and electro-optic crystals in late 1980s, the development of THz science and technology has been limited to the marginal power level of available lasers with nano-Joule to mJ laser pulse energy. We propose to explore the upper limit of THz wave emitters with the application of the most intense lasers (kJ pulse energy and sub-ps pulse duration) in the world at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at Rochester. In our preliminary experiment in the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, we have used a multi-terawatt (MTW) laser (13 to 18 J pulse energy and 1 ps pulse duration) to excite targets and successfully measured THz wave generation during this pilot test. We propose to investigate THz photonics by using unique lasers (from J to kJ pulse energy) originally constructed for laser fusion at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Univ. of Rochester. Proposed tasks including different THz emitter targets, excitation laser parameters, and spectral/temporally resolved detection. The development of a single-shot THz characterization technology is imperative for low repetition rate lasers, which will also be mainly demonstrated in our lab.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 21, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95502110389XX0
Entities
People
- Xi-Cheng Zhang
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Rochester