Electro-Optic Detection of Plasma Generated THz Pulses

Abstract

We implement a technique of generating ultrafast THz-pulses for use in a time-resolved THz-spectroscopy system. We focus light emitted by an amplified Ti:Sapphire Laser in order to ionize a small filament of air, causing the formation of plasma. When laser pulses cross the plasma the Kerr effect produces measurable, ultrafast THz pulses. More specifically, we characterized pulse length and spectral bandwidth of the generated THz-pulses by examining the response by different electro-optical crystals of different thicknesses. This THz spectroscopy system is currently being used to measure the mobilities of photoelectrons in Methylammonium Lead Iodide perovskite materials, which are potential substitutes for silicon solar cells and also to measure their composition