Theory of THz generation by Optical Rectification using Tilted-Pulse-Fronts

Abstract

A model for THz generation by optical rectification using tilted-pulse-fronts is developed. It simultaneously accounts for (i) the spatio-temporal distortions of the optical pump pulse, (ii) the nonlinear coupled interaction of THz and optical radiation in two spatial dimensions (2-D), (iii) self-phase modulation and (iv) stimulated Raman scattering. The model is validated by quantitative agreement with experiments and analytic calculations. We show that the optical pump beam is significantly broadened in the transverse-momentum (kx) domain as a consequence of the spectral broadening caused by THz generation. In the presence of this large frequency and transverse-momentum (or angular) spread, group velocity dispersion causes a spatio-temporal break-up of the optical pump pulse which inhibits further THz generation. The implications of these effects on energy scaling and optimization of optical-to-THz conversion efficiency are discussed. This suggests the use of optical pump pulses with elliptical beam profiles for large optical pump energies. It is seen that optimization of the setup is highly dependent on optical pump conditions. Trade-offs of optimizing the optical-to-THz conversion efficiency on the spatial and spectral properties of THz radiation is discussed to guide the development of such sources.

arXiv comment21 pages, 8 figures

References in corpus (7)

• Sub-cycle control of terahertz high-harmonic generation by dynamical Bloch oscillations
• Single-cycle THz pulses with amplitudes exceeding 1 MV/cm generated by optical rectification in LiNbO3
• Molecular Orientation by Intense Single Cycle THz Pulses
• Limitations to THz generation by optical rectification using tilted pulse fronts
• Compact electron acceleration and bunch compression in THz waveguides
• Terahertz Generation in Lithium Niobate Driven by Ti:Sapphire Laser Pulses and its Limitations
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Cited by in corpus (11)

• Enhancement of Terahertz Photoconductive Antennas and Photomixers Operation by Optical Nanoantennas
• Pulse Sequences for Efficient Multi-Cycle Terahertz Generation in Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate
• High Efficiency Terahertz Generation in a Multi-Stage System
• Full 3D+1 modelling of the tilted-pulse-front setups for single-cycle terahertz generation
• Analysis of terahertz generation using tilted-pulse-fronts
• Generating compressed broadband terahertz pulses using aperiodically poled electro-optic crystals
• Terahertz generation by beamlet superposition
• 1.4-mJ High Energy Terahertz Radiation from Lithium Niobates
• Accurate simulation of THz generation with Finite-Element Time Domain methods
• Demonstration of a Tilted-Pulse-Front Pumped Plane-Parallel Slab Terahertz Source
• Milliwatt average power, MHz-repetition rate, broadband THz generation in organic crystal BNA with diamond substrate