Generating compressed broadband terahertz pulses using aperiodically poled electro-optic crystals

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel method for generating compressed broadband terahertz pulses using aperiodically poled electro-optic crystals, improving efficiency and pulse compression without external devices.

Contribution

The authors introduce a general technique employing aperiodically poled structures for direct generation of compressed broadband terahertz pulses from optical pumps.

Findings

Achieves efficient terahertz pulse generation with conversion efficiencies of a few percent.

Produces compressed broadband terahertz pulses without external compression.

Effective for pulses of intermediate durations of a few to tens of cycles.

Abstract

We introduce a general technique to generate compressed broadband terahertz pulses based on difference frequency generation of optical pump radiation using aperiodically poled structures. The pump pulse format and poling of the crystals conceived are such that the emergent terahertz pulse is compressed. The approach circumvents pump pulse distortions that result from non-collinear approaches and the need for external compression. It is particularly efficient for the generation of pulses of intermediate durations of few to tens of cycles. For instance, conversion efficiencies in the few percent range are attainable in cryogenically cooled lithium niobate.