Numerical study of multiline CO laser frequency conversion in a ZnGeP2 crystal to the THz range

A numerical simulation was performed for frequency conversion of multiline CO laser radiation to the THz range by difference frequency generation in a ZnGeP2 crystal. It was shown that the difference frequencies spectrum can be tuned in the wavelength interval of 70–1300 μm by tuning the phase-matching angle in the range of 11° to 55°. The maximal peak power of difference frequencies radiation (integral over the spectrum) was ~0.23 W at 45° phase-matching angle, which corresponds to a peak power conversion efficiency of 6 × 10−5

Physical origins of double peak phase matching in GaSe

Double peak phase matching was recorded during experimental study of parametric frequency converters based on GaSe, its solid solutions crystals like GaSe1-xSx and ZnGeP2. Its physical origins are identified as presence of twin, large difference between cut and PM angles, self-heating effect at appropriate conditions, mismatched second (Φ) phase matching angle and microdefects. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only

Prospects of controlling the propagation of high power THz radiation by passive optical elements including 3D printed

Different types of optical elements for controlling high power THz radiation were studied. Controlling was performed utilizing amplitude modulation of the electric field and effective spatial modulation of the complex dielectric susceptibility in the volume of the THz filter. We make a comparison of attenuation efficiency of various options of 3D printed filters when ABS filament is mixed with perovskite microparticles. Another type of filter was obtained by the deposition of magnetic particles in the presence of an external magnetic field in a transparent polymer matrix. Industrial isotropic cut-off filters based on layered meta structures have also been investigated. A comparison is made of the efficiency of attenuation of linearly polarized THz radiation with homemade band-pass polarizers obtained by etching copper from a flexible polyimide substrate and industrial filters. Filters and polarizers created using 3D printing, or by deposition of polymer matrix with magnetic particles under external field, are attractive cost effective elements

Prospects of controlling the propagation of high-power THz radiation by passive optical elements including 3D printed

Optical properties of different commercial plastics for fused deposition modeling 3D printing are defined at room temperature in the spectral range 0.2˗1.2 THz. We compare absorption coefficients and refractive index of ABS, PETG, and SBS printed 1-4 mm plates. Different types of optical elements for controlling high-power THz radiation are studied. A comparison is made of the efficiency of attenuation of linearly polarized THz radiation with homemade band-pass polarizers obtained by etching copper from a flexible polyimide substrate. Filters and polarizers created using 3D printing or by deposition of polymer matrix with magnetic particles under external field are cost-effective and can be easily changed or replaced. Comparison between plastic insets, filters based on magnetic particles, and polyimide film filters are made

Detailed study on optical properties of Li2B4O7 for down conversion to millimeter waves

For the first time, we measured the laser damage threshold of LB4 nonlinear crystal (≥ 10 TW/cm2) for an fs- (60 fs, 950 nm) pulses. Refractive index components for a THz range 0.15-1.6 THz were measured and carefully reapproximated in terms of Sellmeier dispersion equations. Using the equations and the measured optical breakdown threshold, the efficiency of THz radiation generation is estimated for all possible types of three wave interactions. For e–e → e type of interaction deff = (2d15 + d31)cos2sin + d33sin3, o–o → e type deff = d31sin, and for o–e → o type deff = d15sin. The angle at which the phase matching conditions are achieved for THz radiation generation at frequencies < 1.5 THz is ≤ 10. Small values of the phase matching angles and, accordingly, small values of effective nonlinear coefficients explain the lack of experimental studies on the THz generation. The extremely high optical breakdown threshold and high atmospheric transmission in the longwavelength part of the THz range overcompensate low efficient nonlinear coefficients of LB4. Which makes it prospective for long trace high sensitivity probing of the atmosphere composition and parameters

Detailed study on optical properties of Li2B4O7 for down-conversion to millimeter waves

Optical properties of single axes Li2B4O7 (LB4) crystal are defined at room temperature in the spectral range 0.03˗0.5 THz. Dispersion of the refractive index components are approximated in the form of Sellmeier equations. Dispersion properties were used to determine phase-matching conditions for THz wave generation by collinear difference frequency generation processes. To the damage threshold under the pump by train of hundreds of 60 fs pulses of Ti:sapphire laser operating at 950 nm is found to be 250 TW/cm2, as well as the coherence length and efficiency of all possible types of three wave interactions are defined

Optical rectification and down-conversion of fs pulses into mid-IR and THz range in GaSe1-xSx

Design of top S-doped GaSe growth technology is completed. New methods for characterization of high optical quality crystals are proposed that allowed selection optimally doped crystals. Frequency conversion of fs pulses into 6.5–35 μm and into 0.2–4.5 THz is realized. S-doped crystals demonstrated advantages from 50–70% in the first experiments up to 8.5–15 times in the following experiments depending on experimental conditions. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only

Aspects for efficient wide spectral band THz generation via CO2 laser down conversion

Detailed model study of THz generation by CO2 laser down-conversion in pure and solid solution crystals GaSe1-xSx is carried out for the first time. Both forward and backward collinear interactions of common (eo-e, oe-e, oe-o, oo-e, ee-o) and original (ee-e, oo-o) types are considered. Possibility of realization, phase matching angles and figure of merits are estimated for line mixing within 9 μm and 10 μm emission bands, as well between them. Dispersion properties of o- and e-wave refractive indices and absorption coefficients for GaSe, GaS and GaSe1-xSx crystals were preliminary measured by THz-TDS, approximated in the equation form and then used in the study. Estimated results are presented in the form of 3-D figures that are suitable for rapid analyses of DFG parameters. The most efficient type of interaction is eo-o type. Optimally doped (x = 0.09-0.13) GaSe1-xSx crystals are from 4 to 5 times more efficient at limit pump intensity than not doped GaSe crystals