Characterization of amorphous and nanocrystalline carbon films

Science and technologies based on terahertz frequency electromagnetic radiation (100 GHz–30 THz) have developed rapidly over the last 30 years. For most of the 20th Century, terahertz radiation, then referred to as sub-millimeter wave or far-infrared radiation, was mainly utilized by astronomers and some spectroscopists. Following the development of laser based terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in the 1980s and 1990s the field of THz science and technology expanded rapidly, to the extent that it now touches many areas from fundamental science to 'real world' applications. For example THz radiation is being used to optimize materials for new solar cells, and may also be a key technology for the next generation of airport security scanners. While the field was emerging it was possible to keep track of all new developments, however now the field has grown so much that it is increasingly difficult to follow the diverse range of new discoveries and applications that are appearing. At this point in time, when the field of THz science and technology is moving from an emerging to a more established and interdisciplinary field, it is apt to present a roadmap to help identify the breadth and future directions of the field. The aim of this roadmap is to present a snapshot of the present state of THz science and technology in 2017, and provide an opinion on the challenges and opportunities that the future holds. To be able to achieve this aim, we have invited a group of international experts to write 18 sections that cover most of the key areas of THz science and technology. We hope that The 2017 Roadmap on THz science and technology will prove to be a useful resource by providing a wide ranging introduction to the capabilities of THz radiation for those outside or just entering the field as well as providing perspective and breadth for those who are well established. We also feel that this review should serve as a useful guide for government and funding agencies.

The 2016 terahertz science and technology roadmap

The induced nonlinear electric dipole and higher moments in an atomic system, irradiated simultaneously by two or three light waves, are calculated by quantum-mechanical perturbation theory. Terms quadratic and cubic in the field amplitudes are included. An important permutation symmetry relation for the nonlinear polarizability is derived and its frequency dependence is discussed. The nonlinear microscopic properties are related to an effective macroscopic nonlinear polarization, which may be incorporated into Maxwell's equations for an infinite, homogeneous, anisotropic, nonlinear, dielectric medium. Energy and power relationships are derived for the nonlinear dielectric which correspond to the Manley-Rowe relations in the theory of parametric amplifiers. Explicit solutions are obtained for the coupled amplitude equations, which describe the interaction between a plane light wave and its second harmonic or the interaction between three plane electromagnetic waves, which satisfy the energy relationship ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{3}={\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}+{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$, and the approximate momentum relationship ${\mathrm{k}}_{3}={\mathrm{k}}_{1}+{\mathrm{k}}_{2}+\ensuremath{\Delta}\mathrm{k}$. Third-harmonic generation and interaction between more waves is mentioned. Applications of the theory to the dc and microwave Kerr effect, light modulation, harmonic generation, and parametric conversion are discussed.

/pdf/interactions-between-light-waves-in-a-nonlinear-dielectric-2m21ug6r84.pdf

Interactions between Light Waves in a Nonlinear Dielectric

This review is focused on the latest developments in continuous-wave (CW) photomixing for Terahertz (THz) generation. The first part of the paper explains the limiting factors for operation at high frequencies ∼ 1 THz, namely transit time or lifetime roll-off, antenna (R)-device (C) RC roll-off, current screening and blocking, and heat dissipation. We will present various realizations of both photoconductive and p-i-n diode–based photomixers to overcome these limitations, including perspectives on novel materials for high-power photomixers operating at telecom wavelengths (1550 nm). In addition to the classical approach of feeding current originating from a small semiconductor photomixer device to an antenna (antenna-based emitter, AE), an antennaless approach in which the active area itself radiates (large area emitter, LAE) is discussed in detail. Although we focus on CW photomixing, we briefly discuss recent results for LAEs under pulsed conditions. Record power levels of 1.5 mW average power and conversion efficiencies as high as 2 × 10−3 have been reached, about 2 orders of magnitude higher than those obtained with CW antenna-based emitters. The second part of the paper is devoted to applications for CW photomixers. We begin with a discussion of the development of novel THz optics. Special attention is paid to experiments exploiting the long coherence length of CW photomixers for coherent emission and detection of THz arrays. The long coherence length comes with an unprecedented narrow linewidth. This is of particular interest for spectroscopic applications, the field in which THz research has perhaps the highest impact. We point out that CW spectroscopy systems may potentially be more compact, cheaper, and more accurate than conventional pulsed systems. These features are attributed to telecom-wavelength compatibility, to excellent frequency resolution, and to their huge spectral density. The paper concludes with prototype experiments of THz wireless LAN applications. For future telecommunication systems, the limited bandwidth of photodiodes is inadequate for further upshifting carrier frequencies. This, however, will soon be required for increased data throughput. The implementation of telecom-wavelength compatible photomixing diodes for down-conversion of an optical carrier signal to a (sub-)THz RF signal will be required.

/pdf/tunable-continuous-wave-terahertz-photomixer-sources-and-rulvqaamg0.pdf

Tunable, continuous-wave Terahertz photomixer sources and applications

The outstanding phase-noise performance of optical frequency combs has led to a revolution in optical synthesis and metrology, covering a myriad of applications, from molecular spectroscopy to laser ranging and optical communications However, the ideal characteristics of an optical frequency comb are application dependent In this review, the different techniques for the generation and processing of high-repetition-rate (>10GHz) optical frequency combs with technologies compatible with optical communication equipment are covered Particular emphasis is put on the benefits and prospects of this technology in the general field of radio-frequency photonics, including applications in high-performance microwave photonic filtering, ultra-broadband coherent communications, and radio-frequency arbitrary waveform generation

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/lpor.201300126

Optical frequency comb technology for ultra‐broadband radio‐frequency photonics

High-resolution tomographic imaging is demonstrated using a reflection-type terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. To realize a practical system for general use, a robust all-fiber laser was used as the pump light source. Broadband terahertz waves were generated with the combination of optical pulses compressed to 17 fs using optical fibers and a DAST crystal. Using deconvolution signal processing, the wideband spectrum of the generated terahertz waves provided high-axial resolution leading to successful imaging of a multilayered structure containing a 2-μm-thin GaAs layer. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of terahertz tomographic imaging of such a thin layer.

High-resolution time-of-flight terahertz tomography using a femtosecond fiber laser

Random frequency accessible, ultra-broad-band (1.5–37 THz) THz-wave generation was demonstrated using difference frequency generation (DFG) in an organic 4-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate (DAST) crystal. Such DAST crystals are promising materials for efficient and high-power THz-wave generation because of their very high nonlinearity and low refractive index dispersion between the near-infrared region and the THz-wave region. We can use the highest nonlinear component of DAST, d11 (about 230 pm/V), to generate THz waves using DFG because the collinear phase-matching condition of the Type 0 configuration is satisfied. We constructed a dual-wavelength optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with two KTP crystals pumped by a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. Each KTP crystal was set on a galvano scanner. The angle of each crystal was controlled independently. The OPO is tunable at 1300–1900 nm, giving an ultra-broad tunable range of the THz wave. We generated an ultra-broad tunable THz wave using only one DAST crystal without any change of the experimental setup aside from the computer-controlled galvano-scanner angle change. The highest THz-wave energy of 10 nJ was obtained at around the 26 THz region under 2 mJ of pumping energy. Also, the THz-wave source can access a desired THz frequency at every pulse (50 Hz at present). The galvano scanner has 1 kHz of response, with 1-ms frequency access speed.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1143/JJAP.46.7321/pdf

Random Frequency Accessible Broad Tunable Terahertz-Wave Source Using Phase-Matched 4-Dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium Tosylate Crystal

Terahertz (THz) wave generation based on nonlinear frequency conversion is promising way for realizing a tunable monochromatic bright THz-wave source. Such a development of efficient and wide tunable THz-wave source depends on discovery of novel brilliant nonlinear crystal. Important factors of a nonlinear crystal for THz-wave generation are, 1. High nonlinearity and 2. Good transparency at THz frequency region. Unfortunately, many nonlinear crystals have strong absorption at THz frequency region. The fact limits efficient and wide tunable THz-wave generation. Here, we show that Cherenkov radiation with waveguide structure is an effective strategy for achieving efficient and extremely wide tunable THz-wave source. We fabricated MgO-doped lithium niobate slab waveguide with 3.8 microm of thickness and demonstrated difference frequency generation of THz-wave generation with Cherenkov phase matching. Extremely frequency-widened THz-wave generation, from 0.1 to 7.2 THz, without no structural dips successfully obtained. The tuning frequency range of waveguided Cherenkov radiation source was extremely widened compare to that of injection seeded-Terahertz Parametric Generator. The tuning range obtained in this work for THz-wave generation using lithium niobate crystal was the widest value in our knowledge. The highest THz-wave energy obtained was about 3.2 pJ, and the energy conversion efficiency was about 10(-5) %. The method can be easily applied for many conventional nonlinear crystals, results in realizing simple, reasonable, compact, high efficient and ultra broad band THz-wave sources.

Extremely frequency-widened terahertz wave generation using Cherenkov-type radiation.

We present a monochromatic sub-terahertz signal generation technique using an optical comb signal, arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), and a uni-traveling carrier photodiode (UTC-PD) for spectroscopic applications. This scheme offers random or continuous frequency tuning in the range between 100 GHz and up to 1 THz. In addition, since a RF synthesizer is employed as a reference signal source of the photonic frequency multiplier, frequency locking with external instruments and reliable operation are offered. Highly coherent optical comb signal for the photonic frequency multiplication provides a narrow linewidth and very low phase noise in the generated sub-terahertz signal. For 125 GHz, the phase noise is approximately -92 dBc/Hz at the offset frequency of 10 kHz. This is larger than that of the 25-GHz RF source by about 13 dB and agrees well with the theory regarding phase noise multiplications due to frequency multiplication. For generating monochromatic signals, unwanted spurious signals are suppressed in the optical domain over a wide range with two AWGs, and the suppression ratio is expected to be better than 46 dBc. Utilizing the implemented sub-terahertz signal generator with a J-band UTC-PD module, absorption lines of N2O were measured in the frequency range between 240 and 360 GHz and compared with theoretical calculations.

Broadband-Frequency-Tunable Sub-Terahertz Wave Generation Using an Optical Comb, AWGs, Optical Switches, and a Uni-Traveling Carrier Photodiode for Spectroscopic Applications

Koji Suizu

Papers

High-resolution time-of-flight terahertz tomography using a femtosecond fiber laser

Random Frequency Accessible Broad Tunable Terahertz-Wave Source Using Phase-Matched 4-Dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium Tosylate Crystal

Extremely frequency-widened terahertz wave generation using Cherenkov-type radiation.

Broadband-Frequency-Tunable Sub-Terahertz Wave Generation Using an Optical Comb, AWGs, Optical Switches, and a Uni-Traveling Carrier Photodiode for Spectroscopic Applications

THz imaging techniques for nondestructive inspections