硅棱镜耦合输出THz波参量振荡器的实验研究

利用一块MgO:LiNbO3晶体,采用Si棱镜耦合出射方式构成太赫兹(THz)波参量振荡器,实现了高效可调谐的THz波输出,调谐范围为0.95～2.10THz。在1.80THz处,当泵浦能量为101mJ时,产生的THz波平均功率为580nW,THz波单脉冲能量为58nJ,THz波能量转换效率为5.74×10-7;同时产生的Stokes能量为2.7mJ。实验中,观察到了一阶和二阶Stokes光,一阶Stokes光与泵浦光的频差等于产生的THz波的频率。     

Kilowatt-peak Terahertz-wave Generation and Sub-femtojoule Terahertz-wave Pulse Detection Based on Nonlinear Optical Wavelength-conversion at Room Temperature

Intense Terahertz (THz)-wave generation and highly sensitive THz-wave detection were obtained by wavelength conversion with nonlinear optical susceptibility χ⁽²⁾ of LiNbO₃ crystals. Maximum peak output of about 50 kW (5 μJ/pulse) was demonstrated in an injection-seeded THz-wave parametric generator pumped by post-amplified emission from a microchip Nd:YAG laser. Using the sub-nanosecond pulse duration of the laser proposed herein provides effective mitigation of stimulated Brillouin scattering in LiNbO₃, producing higher gain for wavelength conversion between near-infrared (near-IR) pump light and THz waves. Monochromatic THz radiation was obtained in the continuous tuning range of 0.7–2.9 THz. Additionally, highly sensitive THz-wave detection was demonstrated based on up-conversion from THz waves to near-IR light as well as efficient THz-wave generation. The signal generated with non-collinear phase-matching condition showed spectroscopic detection on the screen apart from the LiNbO₃ crystal. Highly sensitive detection with minimum energy of about 80 aJ/pulse (0.8 μW at peak) and a large dynamic range of more than 100 dB were achieved in this experiment.     

Compact High-Repetition-Rate Monochromatic Terahertz Source Based on Difference Frequency Generation from a Dual-Wavelength Nd:YAG Laser and DAST Crystal

Although high-repetition-rate dual-wavelength Nd:YAG lasers at 1319 and 1338 nm have been realized for quite a long time, we have employed it in generating monochromatic terahertz (THz) wave in this paper for the first time. The dual-wavelength laser was LD-end-pumped and acousto-optically (AO) Q-switched with the output power of watt level operating at different repetition rates from 5.5 to 30 kHz. Using a 0.6-mm-thick organic nonlinear crystal DAST for difference frequency generation (DFG), a compact terahertz source was achieved at 3.28 THz. The maximum average output power was about 0.58 μW obtained at a repetition rate of 5.5 kHz, corresponding to the conversion efficiency of about 6.4?×?10^?7. The output power scaling is still feasible with higher pump power and a longer nonlinear DFG crystal. Owing to the compactness of the dual-wavelength laser and the nonlinear crystal, a palm-top terahertz source is expected for portable applications such as imaging and so on.     

Temporal Behavior of the Pump Pulses,Residual Pump Pulses,and THz Pulses for D<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Gas Pumped by a TEA CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Laser

Temporal behavior of the pump pulses, residual pump pulses, and THz pulses for optically pumped D₂O gas molecules was investigated by using a tunable TEA CO₂ laser as the pumping source. The pulse profiles of pump laser pulses, residual pump pulses, and the THz output pulses were measured, simultaneously, at several different gas pressures. For THz pulse, the pulse delay between the THz pulse and the pump pulse was observed and the delay time was observed to increase from 40 to 70 ns with an increase in gas pressure from 500 to 1700 Pa. Both THz pulse broadening and compression were observed, and the pulse broadening effect transformed to the compression effect with increasing the gas pressure. For the residual pump pulse, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the main pulse decreased with increasing gas pressure, and the main pulse disappeared at high gas pressures. The secondary pulses were observed at high gas pressure, and the time intervals of about 518 and 435 ns were observed between the THz output pulse and the secondary residual pump pulse at the pressure of 1400 Pa and 1700 Pa, from which the vibrational relaxation time constants of about 5.45 and 5.55 μs Torr were obtained.     

Output-Mirror-Tuning Terahertz-Wave Parametric Oscillator with an Asymmetrical Porro-Prism Resonator Configuration

We demonstrate a terahertz-wave parametric oscillator (TPO) with an asymmetrical porro-prism (PP) resonator configuration, consisting of a close PP corner reflector and a distant output mirror relative to the MgO:LiNbO₃ crystal. Based on this cavity, frequency tuning of Stokes and the accompanied terahertz (THz) waves is realized just by rotating the plane mirror. Furthermore, THz output with high efficiency and wide tuning range is obtained. Compared with a conventional TPO employing a plane-parallel resonator of the same cavity length and output loss, the low end of the frequency tuning range is extended to 0.96 THz from 1.2 THz. The highest output obtained at 1.28 THz is enhanced by about 25%, and the oscillation threshold pump energy measured at 1.66 THz is reduced by about 4.5%. This resonator configuration also shows some potential to simplify the structure and application for intracavity TPOs.     

Study of Lasing Action in a Pulsed Optically Pumped D<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Gas Terahertz Laser

A modified three-level laser kinetics model for a pulsed high-power optically pumped gas terahertz laser is introduced and used to model the lasing kinetics process of a gas terahertz laser system. We, for the first time to our knowledge, investigated the time evolution dynamics process of the pump intensity, population distribution among the energy levels, pump and THz signal gain coefficient, and the THz laser intensity within the pulsed D₂O gas THz laser. High-power THz pulse with peak power of about 7.4 kW and pulse width of 145 ns at wavelength of 385 μm were obtained in the simulation, using an incident pump pulse with peak power of 2.2 MW and pulse width of 110 ns. THz pulse delay of 40 ns and pulse broadening of 35 ns were quantitatively analyzed. In addition, the experimental results for the pulse profile, pulse width, pulse broadening, pulse energy, and peak power are in agreement with the theoretical simulation results.     

高能量、快速可调谐太赫兹参量振荡器

基于受激电磁耦子散射的太赫兹(THz)波参量振荡器是产生高能量、相干THz波的有效手段之一,实验中采用垂直晶体表面出射结构,在1.63 THz处实现了最高单脉冲能量为634 nJ的THz波输出。利用电控振镜快速改变泵浦光入射到MgO:LN晶体中的角度,实现了0.75 THz~2.81 THz范围内的快速调谐,该辐射源可以满足THz波在生物医学、太赫兹通信、环境监测等应用领域的需求。     

Tunable,Room Temperature CMOS-Compatible THz Emitters Based on Nonlinear Mixing in Microdisk Resonators

We propose and investigate in detail a novel tunable, compact, room temperature terahertz (THz) emitter using individual microdisk resonators for both optical and THz waves with the capability of radiating THz field in 0.5–10 THz range with tuning frequency resolution of 0.05 THz. Enhanced THz generation is achieved by employing a nonlinear optical disk resonator with a high value of second-order nonlinearity (χ ⁽²⁾) in order to facilitate the difference-frequency generation (DFG) via nonlinear mixing with the choice of two appropriate input infrared optical waves. Efficient coupling of infrared waves from bus to the nonlinear disk is ensured by satisfying critical coupling condition. Phase matching condition for efficient DFG process is also met by employing modal phase matching technique. Our simulations show that THz output power can be reached up to milliwatt (mW) level with high optical to THz conversion efficiency. The proposed source is Silicon on Insulator (SoI) technology compatible enabling the monolithic integration with Si complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) electronics including plasmonic THz detectors.     

表面出射太赫兹波参量振荡器的设计与增强输出

利用一台多纵模调Q Nd:YAG激光器泵浦的浅表垂直发射太赫兹波参量振荡器参量产生了高功率可调谐太赫兹波辐射。推导了非共线相位匹配条件下的有效参量增益长度以优化太赫兹波参量振荡器参数。实验测得太赫兹波的调谐范围为0.77~2.83 THz。当泵浦功率密度为222.3 MW/cm2时,在1.78 THz处太赫兹波的最大输出能量为347.8 nJ/pulse,对应的能量转化效率为3.9110-6。太赫兹波在垂直方向上的远场发散角为0.020 4 rad,在水平方向上为0.006 8 rad。     

Pulsed CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>OH Terahertz Laser Emission Pumped by a TEA CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Laser

A simple terahertz (THz) cavity and a TEA CO₂ laser for the optically pumped THz emission is studied experimentally. To obtain high peak power of pump laser, pressure ratios of gas mixture in the cavity of the TEA CO₂ laser are discussed. When CH₃OH are pumped by the 9P(16) and 9P(36) CO₂ laser lines, the generation of terahertz radiation with energy as high as 353 μJ and 307 μJ are obtained, respectively. The corresponding photon conversion efficiencies are 0.705% and 0.29%. Meanwhile, higher peak power of pump laser effectively improves the photon conversion efficiency. And the optimum THz laser pressure increases with narrower pulse width of pump laser.     

GaP,GaAs和PPLN晶体级联差频产生太赫兹辐射

研究周期极化磷化镓晶体(GaP)、砷化镓晶体(GaAs)和周期极化铌酸锂晶体(PPLN)准相位匹配级联差频产生太赫兹辐射,相较于差频过程,级联过程太赫兹辐射输出功率增大9.5倍。通过分析三波耦合方程,计算并比较晶体的波矢失配量、极化周期和太赫兹功率,结果显示,基于GaP晶体产生的太赫兹功率略大于GaAs晶体输出的功率;GaAs晶体的极化周期最小;PPLN晶体的波矢失配量和极化周期取值范围最小,而输出的太赫兹功率和转换效率最高。建立基于周期极化掺氧化镁铌酸锂晶体(MgO:PPLN)准相位匹配原理的宽调谐激光系统,分析吸收因子对输出太赫兹功率的影响,计算级联差频峰值功率和转换效率。十五阶峰值功率3.72 MW,泵浦光总能量到太赫兹辐射能量的转换效率是3.72%。     

周期极化GaAs晶体中差频产生太赫兹辐射的研究

传统的光学差频产生的太赫兹辐射转换效率低,不能获得高功率太赫兹辐射。本文对周期极化GaAs晶体中差频产生太赫兹辐射进行了理论计算,通过温度调谐实现了周期极化GaAs晶体中差频获得可调谐太赫兹波的输出。为了提高差频过程的增益和量子效率,在准相位匹配基础上引进了级联差频机理,并对最佳晶体长度和最佳泵浦频率进行了计算。结果表明,利用周期极化的GaAs晶体可以获得更高能量更高效率的太赫兹波辐射。     

Diamond Schottky Contact Transit-time Diode for Terahertz Power Generation

A diamond mixed tunneling and avalanche transit-time diode is designed in this letter. Schottky contact is used in this kind of diode to reduce the contact resistance. Electrical characteristics of n-type diamond Schottky contact have been accurately investigated. Total output power of such transit-time diode is evaluated using an accurate large-signal model. The results indicate that the new type transit-time diode can operate with the frequency up to several terahertzes. The output power density is more than 1.185 MW/cm² from 1.07 to 2.12THz. About 17% improvement in efficiency is found at 2.12THz.     

A highly efficient class-EF<Subscript>2</Subscript> power amplifier in GaAs pHEMT technology

This paper presents a highly efficient class-EF₂ power amplifier in GaAs pHEMT technology with high output power. Drain swing voltage of class-E power amplifier (PA) imposes a restriction on its output power. In this work, using a combination of class-E and F relaxes this limitation which may help in increasing DC supply voltage. Higher DC supply voltage of class-EF₂ PA leads to increased output power and efficiency, as output power is proportional to supply voltage. In addition, higher supply voltage permits PA to work under lower current which can cause to reduce power dissipation. Proposed class-EF₂ PA is implemented in a single recess AlGaAs–InGaAs pHEMT technology with 0.25-µm gate length; power added efficiency of 52% at 31 dBm output power is achieved at 1.8 GHz.     

UWB distributed amplifier design using lookup tables and g<Subscript>m</Subscript> over I<Subscript>D</Subscript> methodology

This paper introduces a synthesis procedure for designing Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) Distributed amplifiers (DA) based on lookup tables exploiting the g_m over I_D methodology. In order to validate the proposed approach, two conventional DAs with different number of stages were synthetized. The two DAs were implemented using the IHP 0.13 µm SiGe process and both achieve power gain of 11 dB, bandwidth of 10.6 GHz and DC-power consumption of 26 mW with a 1.2 supply voltage. The post-layout simulations validate both the accuracy and effectiveness of the procedure proposed for optimizing the DA performances. Additionally, the four-stage DA configuration, designed with the proposed approach achieves input/output matching return losses better than 16/18 dB. To the authors knowledge, these values are the best input/output return losses ever reported in literature for a conventional DA designed for UWB applications.     

基于PPLN晶体的可调谐太赫兹波辐射特性研究

提出了一种周期极化铌酸锂(PPLN)晶体差频产生太 赫兹(THz)波的新型结构。基于非线性晶体三波互作用理论模型,根据周 期极化掺镁铌酸锂(PPMgLN)晶体的准相位匹配原理和掺铒光纤激光器(EDFL)双波长输出激光 特性,并结合晶体折 射率差公式,理论分析了工作温度及极化反转光栅周期对其输出THz波的影响,给出 一定频率范围内其 输出波长连续可调谐的实现方法。本文系统结构简单、成本低和调谐容易,激光器可室温 运转。     

Enhancement of Real-Time THz Imaging System Based on 320 × 240 Uncooled Microbolometer Detector

A real-time terahertz (THz) imaging system was demonstrated based on a 320?×?240 uncooled microbolometer detector combined with a 2.52 THz far-infrared CO₂ laser. On the top of micro-bridge structure (35?×?35 μm²), a 10 nm nickel-chromium (NiCr) thin film was deposited to enhance THz absorption, which was fabricated by a combined process of magnetron sputtering and reactive ion etching (RIE). By mechanical simulation using design of experiment (DOE) method, the minimum deformation was optimized to 0.0385 μm, and a measured deformation of 0.097 μm was achieved in the fabrication. The fabricated micro-bridge pixel was used for THz detection, and a responsivity of 1235 V/W was achieved with a noise equivalent power (NEP) of 87.4 pW/Hz^1/2. THz imaging of metal gasket covered by label paper, paper clip in an envelope, and watermark of a banknote was demonstrated by a combination of histogram equalization (HE) and linear enhancement algorithm.     

Room-Temperature Quantum Cascade Laser: ZnO/Zn1−x Mg x O Versus GaN/Al x Ga1−x N

A ZnO/Zn_1?x Mg _x O-based quantum cascade laser (QCL) is proposed as a candidate for generation of THz radiation at room temperature. The structural and material properties, field dependence of the THz lasing frequency, and generated power are reported for a resonant phonon ZnO/Zn_0.95Mg_0.05O QCL emitting at 5.27 THz. The theoretical results are compared with those from GaN/Al _x Ga_1?x N QCLs of similar geometry. Higher calculated optical output powers [ $ {P}_{\rm{ZnMgO}} $  = 2.89 mW (nonpolar) at 5.27 THz and 2.75 mW (polar) at 4.93 THz] are obtained with the ZnO/Zn_0.95Mg_0.05O structure as compared with GaN/Al_0.05Ga_0.95N QCLs [ $ {P}_{\rm{AlGaN}} $  = 2.37 mW (nonpolar) at 4.67 THz and 2.29 mW (polar) at 4.52 THz]. Furthermore, a higher wall-plug efficiency (WPE) is obtained for ZnO/ZnMgO QCLs [24.61% (nonpolar) and 23.12% (polar)] when compared with GaN/AlGaN structures [14.11% (nonpolar) and 13.87% (polar)]. These results show that ZnO/ZnMgO material is optimally suited for THz QCLs.     

Terahertz Frequency-Domain Spectroscopy of Low-Pressure Acetonitrile Gas by a Photomixing Terahertz Synthesizer Referenced to Dual Optical Frequency Combs

A terahertz (THz) frequency synthesizer based on photomixing of two near-infrared lasers with a sub-THz to THz frequency offset is a powerful tool for spectroscopy of polar gas molecules due to its broad spectral coverage; however, its frequency accuracy and resolution are relatively low. To tune the output frequency continuously and widely while maintaining its traceability to a frequency standard, we developed a photomixing THz synthesizer phase-locked to dual optical frequency combs (OFCs). While the phase-locking to dual OFCs ensured continuous tuning within a spectral range of 120 GHz, in addition to the traceability to the frequency standard, use of a broadband uni-traveling carrier photodiode for photomixing enabled the generation of CW-THz radiation within a frequency range from 0.2 to 1.5 THz. We demonstrated THz frequency-domain spectroscopy of gas-phase acetonitrile CH₃CN and its isotope CH₃ ¹³CN in the frequency range of 0.600–0.720 THz using this THz synthesizer. Their rotational transitions were assigned with a frequency accuracy of 8.42?×?10^?8 and a frequency resolution of 520 kHz. Furthermore, the concentration of the CH₃CN gas at 20 Pa was determined to be (5.41?±?0.05)?×?10¹⁴ molecules/cm³ by curve fitting analysis of the measured absorbance spectrum, and the mixture ratio of the mixed CH₃CN/CH₃ ¹³CN gas was determined to be 1:2.26 with a gas concentration of 10¹⁴–10¹⁵ molecules/cm³. The developed THz synthesizer is highly promising for high-precision THz-FDS of low-pressure molecular gases and will enable the qualitative and quantitative analyses of multiple gases.     

Continuous-Wave Frequency-Tunable Terahertz-Wave Generation From GaP

Continuous-wave (CW) single-frequency terahertz (THz) waves were generated using difference-frequency generation via excitation of phonon–polaritons in GaP. The two pump sources were an external cavity laser diode (LD) and an LD-pumped Nd : YAG laser. The power density of the latter beam was enhanced by using a ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier. The two incident beams were focused to near the wavelength of THz waves. This optical alignment enabled us to generate frequency-tunable CW THz waves in the 0.69–2.74 THz range. With a fixed angle between the pump beams, we obtained a frequency bandwidth as large as 600 GHz.