Temperature dependent narrow-band terahertz pulse generation in periodically poled crystals via difference frequency generation

Abstract

Femtosecond optical pulse is used to generate narrow-band terahertz pulses depending on a quasi-phase-matched condition in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) and stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPSLT) crystals by difference frequency generation. The origin of narrow-band THz generation proved that the two frequency components of the Is pulse contribute to the frequency mixing. By cryogenic cooling, the absorption of THz waves in the crystal is significantly reduced which results in efficient THz generation. Simultaneously generated forward and backward THz pulses were 1.38 and 0.65 THz with as narrow as the bandwidth of 32 GHz in the PPSLT sample. Temperature dependence of the generated THz waveforms had good agreement with the simulation result using one dimensional plane-wave propagation model. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.