Temporal and Spectral Shaping of Broadband THz Pulses in a Photoexcited Semiconductor

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how photoexcited semiconductors can be used to precisely control the temporal and spectral profiles of broadband Terahertz pulses, enabling advanced nonlinear THz experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method for shaping THz pulses temporally and spectrally using optical pump-probe delay adjustments in photoexcited semiconductors.

Findings

Achieved 92% polar asymmetry in pulse profile.

Upshifted spectrum median by 52%.

Enhanced control over THz pulse shaping for nonlinear experiments.

Abstract

Transmission through photoexcited semiconductors is used to temporally and spectrally shape a Terahertz pulse. By adjusting the optical pump-THz probe delay, we experimentally introduce a polar asymmetry in the pulse profile as high as 92%. To shape the spectrum, we apply the same technique after strongly chirping the Terahertz pulse. This led to significant reshaping of the spectrum with a 52% upshift of spectrum median. Pulse shaping techniques introduced here are of particular importance for temporal and spectral shape-sensitive THz nonlinear experiments.