Microwave emission by nonlinear crystals irradiated with a high-intensity, mode-locked laser

TL;DR

This study experimentally examines how various nonlinear crystals generate microwave radiation through optical rectification when exposed to high-intensity, mode-locked laser pulses, confirming theoretical predictions about harmonic generation.

Contribution

It provides experimental validation of microwave emission via optical rectification in multiple nonlinear crystals and compares results with theoretical models.

Findings

Good agreement between experimental results and theoretical predictions.

Confirmation that optical rectification produces higher order RF harmonics.

Cross-checking of second harmonic generation supports the theoretical framework.

Abstract

We report on the experimental investigation of the efficiency of some nonlinear crystals to generate microwave (RF) radiation as a result of optical rectification (OR) when irradiated with intense pulse trains delivered by a mode-locked laser at $1064\,$nm. We have investigated lithium triborate (LBO), lithium niobate (LiNbO$_3$), zinc selenide (ZnSe), and also potassium titanyl orthophosphate (KTP) for comparison with previous measurements. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions based on the form of the second-order nonlinear susceptibility tensor. For some crystals we investigated also the second harmonic generation (SHG) to cross check the theoretical model. We confirm the theoretical prediction that OR leads to the production of higher order RF harmonics that are overtones of the laser repetition rate.