Applications

Electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz (THz) frequency range is extensively used to study the dynamics of collective motions in solids and liquids or image optically non-transparent samples. The latter is gaining much attention in security and defense applications.

Femtosecond lasers are ideal tools to produce 1 – 30 THz pulses with the desired spectral bandwidth and pulse duration at substantial energy levels. Several laser-based THz generation techniques are available, one of the most common being optical rectification. This second‐order nonlinear optical process is a special case of difference‐frequency generation (DFG). It can be described as intrapulse DFG, where the spectral components with different angular frequencies from the laser pulse are mixed in a nonlinear crystal, thereby generating a new spectral component in the THz range.

Furthermore, THz pulses can be generated by laser excitation of photoconductive antenna or semiconductor surfaces, while one of the most intriguing techniques is plasma-based THz generation. In particular, using air/gas plasma for THz generation is advantageous due to the fact that, unlike nonlinear crystals and other bulk materials, gases do not suffer from damage threshold and are continuously renewable; thus, they can be pumped at extremely high intensities.

Compact and cost-efficient CARBIDE and PHAROS femtosecond lasers feature market-leading output parameters and a robust design attractive to both industrial and scientific customers. The laser output is compressible to sub-10 fs, enabling an efficient THz generation.