Intense tunable terahertz radiation from phase-matched difference frequency generation in strongly magnetized plasmas

TL;DR

This paper presents a method for generating high-energy, tunable terahertz pulses with unprecedented field strengths using phase-matched difference frequency generation in strongly magnetized plasmas, validated by simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel plasma-based approach for efficient, tunable terahertz radiation exceeding 500 GV/m, surpassing traditional crystal and plasma mechanisms.

Findings

Achieved terahertz pulses with field strengths over 500 GV/m.

Derived phase-matching conditions for optimal nonlinear coupling.

Validated predictions with particle-in-cell simulations.

Abstract

High-energy terahertz pulses are challenging to produce due to the low conversion efficiency and limited optical damage threshold of nonlinear crystals. Here, we describe the high-efficiency generation of terahertz radiation pulses with tunable frequency and field strengths exceeding 500 GV/m by propagating two-color laser pulses through a strongly magnetized plasma. The field strength is substantially enhanced by utilizing two extraordinary-mode branches to minimize the phase mismatch. We derive the phase-matching conditions and characterize the nonlinear coupling analytically, and validate these predictions with particle-in-cell simulations. These results establish a new pathway toward next-generation intense terahertz sources with performance well beyond the limits of existing plasma mechanisms and conventional crystal-based approaches.