Abstract & presentation-Nonlinear Optical Wavelength-conversion Between Wave and Light for Terahertz-Wave Generation and Detection

 Hiroaki Minamide

Tera-photonics Team, RIKEN

what	Visitor Seminars
when	Jun 06, 2014 from 03:00 PM to 04:00 PM
where	Engr. IV Bldg., Maxwell Room 57-124
contact name	Prof. Mona Jarrahi

http://ee.ucla.edu/events/events-archive/2014/nonlinear-optical-wavelength-conversion-between-wave-and-light-for-terahertz-wave-generation-and-detection

Abstract

The development of nonlinear optical techniques has been extended into the terahertz (THz)-wave region, while THz waves have proved to be very attractive to both fundamental science and advanced industrial applications in recent years. In the early stage of THz research, we proposed a tunable THz-wave source is essential to exploit the underdeveloped THz region because no one knows which frequency is significant. We have developed coherent tunable THz-wave sources covering an ultra-wide spectral range [1-3] and the output power of our sources has been increasing. The developed THz-wave sources were based on both inorganic LiNbO₃ (LN) and organic (DAST and BNA) crystals. Organic ones cover ultra-wide range from 0.5 to 50 THz, while LN 1 to 3 THz range. As for the output power, the peak-power reached kW-level for injection-seeded LN THz-wave parametric generator [4].

And also, the highly sensitive THz detection [5-7] in room temperature has been developed. By using reverse nonlinear process, THz-wave is up-converted to infrared optical wave, which enables to extract the information of THz wave including both amplitude and phase information. The high-sensitivity, rapid-response THz-wave detection at room temperature was carried out. By using DAST crystal, it is possible to realize ultra-wide frequency range with NEP of the pW/Hz^1/2 at the room-temperature. Higher sensitivity using LN crystal was confirmed (~20pW/Hz^1/2) compared to a typical liquid-He-cooled Si bolometer. The minimum detectable input power of terahertz-wave was less than 1 μW, corresponding dynamic range of more than 100 dB.

In this seminar, we report on widely tunable THz-wave sources and sensitive THz detection using nonlinear optical up-conversion.