Terahertz white-light pulses from an air plasma photo-induced by incommensurate two-color optical fields

Opt Express. 2010 Oct 25;18(22):23173-82. doi: 10.1364/OE.18.023173.

Abstract

We demonstrate plasma-THz generation in ambient air with two-color (ω-2ω) optical excitation using input pulses with a bandwidth supporting sub-20-fs duration, yielding a continuous bandwidth exceeding 100 THz with no significant roll-off and a pulse energy of 360 nJ at a 1-kHz repetition rate. The key aspect in achieving this performance is an optimized geometry of the second-harmonic generation (SHG) crystal, producing a 2ω-field detuned from the second-harmonic of the ω-field, which promotes both a high polarization bandwidth and optimal ω-2ω temporal overlap in the plasma, as supported by theoretical results.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't