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Generation of THz radiation using bulk, periodically and aperiodically poled lithium niobate – Part 1: Theory

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Abstract

Optical rectification of femtosecond pulses in nonlinear materials is an efficient method to generate ultra short terahertz (THz) pulses over a wide frequency range extending from 100 GHz to well above 10 THz. Lithium niobate is particularly well suited for such purposes and can be used both in bulk and periodically poled forms. Different optical techniques for the generation of THz pulses are presented and compared theoretically. The whole discussion is performed for the interaction of gaussian beams using the radiating antenna approach that takes into account the diffraction of the THz wave, and therefore may predict the THz emission in a direction that differs from the optical pulse propagation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Physics, Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schroedinger-Strasse 46, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    J.A. L’huillier & R. Beigang

  2. Terahertz Measurement and Systems, Fraunhofer IPM, Erwin-Schroedinger-Strasse 46, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    G. Torosyan, M. Theuer & R. Beigang

  3. Microwave Eng. Dept., Yerevan State University, 1 Alek Manoogian Str., Yerevan, 375049, Armenia

    Y. Avetisyan

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  1. J.A. L’huillier
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  2. G. Torosyan
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  3. M. Theuer
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  4. Y. Avetisyan
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  5. R. Beigang
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Correspondence to J.A. L’huillier.

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PACS

42.65.Ky; 42.70.Mp; 42.72.Ai

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L’huillier, J., Torosyan, G., Theuer, M. et al. Generation of THz radiation using bulk, periodically and aperiodically poled lithium niobate – Part 1: Theory. Appl. Phys. B 86, 185–196 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-006-2490-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-006-2490-9

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