High-power terahertz radiation from surface-emitted THz-wave parametric oscillator

We report a pulsed surface-emitted THz-wave parametric oscillator based on two MgO：LiNbO3 crystals pumped by a multi-longitudinal mode Q-switched Nd：YAG laser. Through varying the phase matching angle, the tunable THzwave output from 0.79 THz to 2.84 THz is realized. The maximum THz-wave output was 193.2 n J/pulse at 1.84 THz as the pump power density was 212.5 MW/cm2, corresponding to the energy conversion efficiency of 2.42Х10-6 and the photon conversion efficiency of about 0.037%. When the pump power density changed from 123 MW/cm^2 to 148 MW/cm^2 and 164 MW/cm^2, the maximum output of the THz-wave moved to the high frequency band. We give a reasonable explanation for this phenomenon.

Terahertz Transmission Imaging with 2.52 THz Continuous Wave

In this article, two terahertz transmission imaging systems are built with a 2.52 THz continuous wave laser and two types of sensors. One is array scanning system using a 124×124 pyro-electric array camera as the detector; the other is a point-wise scanning system utilizing a Golay cell as the detector. The imaging speed and quality is briefly analyzed. Terahertz （THz） imaging results demonstrate that the array scanning system has higher imaging speed with lower resolution. The point-wise scanning system has higher imaging quality with lower speed.

Terahertz波参量振荡器辐射THz波的理论研究

从固体的元激发理论出发,应用声子的受激散射原理,阐述通过激光抽运LiNbO3晶体产生THz波的参量过程的机理.按照Henry和Garrett的波耦合方法并考虑LiNbO3晶体对THz波的吸收损失,进行推理计算得出THz波参量增益计算式.

Terahertz磁波参量振荡器辐射THz波受温度的影响

从THz波增益、吸收系数、折射率几方面,讨论了THz电磁波参量振荡器辐射THz波受温度的影响,从而得到THz波增益随温度的升高而降低主要原因,是由于LiNbO3晶体中A1对称光学软模的拉曼活性降低所导致,这为今后太赫兹(THz)波参量振荡器的优化设计提供了参考价值。

Study of a rectangular coupled cavity extended interaction oscillator in sub-terahertz waves

An extended interaction oscillator （EIO） generating 120 GHz wave in sub-terahertz waves is studied by using the three-dimensional electromagnetic simulation software CST and PIC codes. A rectangular reentrant coupled-cavity is proposed as the slow-wave structure of EIO. By CST, the circuit parameters including frequency-phase dispersion, interaction impedance and characteristic impedance are simulated and calculated. The operation mode of EIO is chosen very close to the point where βL = 2π with corresponding frequency 120 GHz, the beam voltage 12 kV and the dimensions of the cavity with the period 0.5mm, the height 3mm and the width 1.4mm. Simulation results of beam-wave interaction by PIC show that the exciting frequency is 120.85 GHz and output peak power 465 W with 12-period coupled-cavity with the perveance 0.17 μP. Simulation results indicate that the EIO has very wide range of the operation voltage.

Propagation characteristics of oblique incidence terahertz wave through non-uniform plasma

The propagation characteristics of oblique incidence terahertz(THz) waves through non-uniform plasma are investigated by the shift-operator finite-difference time-domain(SO-FDTD) method combined with the phase matching condition.The electron density distribution of the non-uniform plasma is assumed to be in a Gaussian profile. Validation of the present method is performed by comparing the results with those obtained by an analytical method for a homogeneous plasma slab.Then the effects of parameters of THz wave and plasma layer on the propagation properties are analyzed. It is found that the transmission coefficients greatly depend on the incident angle as well as on the thickness of the plasma, while the polarization of the incident wave has little influence on the propagation process in the range of frequency considered in this paper. The results confirm that the THz wave can pass through the plasma sheath effectively under certain conditions,which makes it a potential candidate to overcome the ionization blackout problem.

Investigation of pump-wavelength dependence of terahertz-wave parametric oscillator based on LiNbO_3

This paper investigates the performances of terahertz-wave parametric oscillators （TPOs） based on the LiNbO3 crystal at different pump wavelengths.The calculated results show that TPO characteristics,including the frequency tuning range,the THz-wave gain and the stability of THz-wave output direction based on the Si-prism coupler,can be significantly improved by using a short-wavelength pump.It also demonstrates that a long-wavelength-pump allows the employment of a short TPO cavity due to an enlarged phase-matching angle,that is,an increased angular separation between the pump and oscillated Stokes beams under the THz-wave generation at a specific frequency. The study provides an useful guide and a theoretical basis for the further improvement of TPO systems.

Research progress in the effects of terahertz waves on biomacromolecules

With the rapid development of terahertz technologies,basic research and applications of terahertz waves in biomedicine have attracted increasing attention.The rotation and vibrational energy levels of biomacromolecules fall in the energy range of terahertz waves;thus,terahertz waves might interact with biomacromolecules.Therefore,terahertz waves have been widely applied to explore features of the terahertz spectrum of biomacromolecules.However,the effects of terahertz waves on biomacromolecules are largely unexplored.Although some progress has been reported,there are still numerous technical barriers to clarifying the relation between terahertz waves and biomacromolecules and to realizing the accurate regulation of biological macromolecules by terahertz waves.Therefore,further investigations should be conducted in the future.In this paper,we reviewed terahertz waves and their biomedical research advantages,applications of terahertz waves on biomacromolecules and the effects of terahertz waves on biomacromolecules.These findings will provide novel ideas and methods for the research and application of terahertz waves in the biomedical field.

HISTORY AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF TERAHERTZ WAVE GENERATION

The unexplored terahertz (THz) region involves important phenomena of both fundamental and applied natures. Examples include phonon interactions, rotational transitions and intermolecular dynamics. Frequency tunable high power THz wave generation has been successfully achieved utilizing lattice resonance of LiNbO3 and GaP crystals, respectively. Semiconductor devices utilizing electron tunneling effect have also been developed.

Design of Efficient Tunable Terahertz-Wave Parametric Oscillator

An efficient widely tunable terahertz（THz）-wave parametric oscillator （TPO） has been designed based on the basic principle of optical parametric oscillator. The design of TPO comprises the theoretical calculations for wavelength dependent refractive index dependent wavelength when the frequency is in the far infrared region, the low-loss parametric gain has been discussed as a same form as the parametric gain in the optical region, realized the non-collinear phase-matching conditions of the terahertz optical parametric oscillator and structure of lithium niobate （LiNbO3） for TPO. The tunable spectrum range of terahertz-wave has been achieved. To increase THz output, a cut exit was made at the comer of the LiNbO3 crystal.

Scattering of Circularly Polarized Terahertz Waves on a Graphene Nanoantenna

We present a surface current method to model the graphene rectangular nanoantenna scattering in the terahertz band with Comsol. Compared with the equivalent thin slab method, the results obtained by the surface current method are more accurate and efficient. Then the electromagnetic scattering of circularly polarized terahertz waves on graphene nanoantennas is numerically analyzed by utilizing the surface current method. The depen- dences of the antenna resonant frequency with the circularly polarized wave on width and length are consistent with those for the linear polarized waves. These results are proved to be useful to design et^cient nanoantennas in terahertz wireless communications.

Simultaneous all-solid-state multi-wavelength lasers——a promising pump source for generating highly coherent terahertz waves

A diode-end-pumped Nd：YAG dual-wavelength laser operating at 1319 and 1338 nm is demonstrated. The maximum average output power of the quasi-continuous wave linearly polarized dual-wavelength laser is obtained to be 2.1 W at a repetition rate of 50 kHz with an output power instability of less than 0.38% and beam quality factor M^2 of 1.45. Using the two lines, the highly coherent and narrow linewidth terahertz radiation of 3.23 THz can be generated in an organic 4-N, N-dimethylamino-methyl-stilbazolium tosylate （DAST） crystal. Meanwhile, the multi-wavelength red laser at 659.5, 664 and 669 nm is generated by frequency doubling and sum frequency processes in a lithium triborate （LBO） crystal. The average red laser output power is enhanced up to 1.625 W at a repetition rate of 15 kHz with an output power instability of better than 0.53% and beam quality factor M^2 of 6.05. Using the three lines, it is possible to generate the multi-wavelength THz radiation of 3.3, 3.43 and 6.73 THz in an appropriate difference frequency crystal.

Broadband Terahertz Wave Generation from Monolayer Graphene Driven by Few-Cycle Laser Pulse

We theoretically investigate the characteristics of terahertz(THz) radiation from monolayer graphene exposed to normal incident few-cycle laser pulses, by numerically solving the extended semiconductor Bloch equations. Our simulations show that the THz spectra in low frequency regions are highly dependent on the carrier envelope phase(CEP) of driving laser pulses. Using an optimal CEP of few-cycle laser pulses, we can obtain broadband strong THz waves, due to the symmetry breaking of the laser-graphene system. Our results also show that the strength of the THz spectra depend on both the intensity and central wavelength of the laser pulses. The intensity dependence of the THz wave can be described by the excitation rate of graphene, while wavelength dependence can be traced back to the band velocity and the population of graphene. We find that a near single-cycle THz pulse can be obtained from graphene driven by a mid-infrared laser pulse.

Measurement of Rain Attenuation in Terahertz Wave Range

Rain attenuation at 355.2 GHz in the terahertz wave range was measured with our new 355.2 GHz measuring system under rainfall intensities up to 25 mm/hr. Rain attenuation coefficients were also calculated using four raindrop-size distributions, e Marshall-Palmer (M-P), Best, Polyakova-Shifrin (P-S) and Weibull distributions, and using a specific rain attenuation model for prediction methods recommended by ITU-R. Measurements of a terahertz wave taken at 355.2 GHz were compared with our calculations. Results showed that the propagation experiment was in very good agreement with a calculation from a specific attenuation model for use in prediction method recommended by ITU-R.

Millimeter Wave and THz Propagation Channel Modeling for High-Data Rate Railway Connectivity--Status and Open Challenges

In the new era of railways, infrastructure, trains and travelers will be interconnected. In order to realize a seamless high-data rate wireless connectivity, up to dozens of GHz bandwidth is required. This motivates the exploration of the underutilized millimeter wave （mmWave） as well as the largely unexplored THz band. In this paper, we first identify relevant communication scenarios for railway applications. Then the specific challenges and estimates of the bandwidth requirements for high-data rate railway connec-tivity in these communication scenarios are described. Finally, we outline the major challenges on propagation channel modeling and provide a technical route for further studies.

Millimeter Wave and Terahertz Communications: Feasibility and Challenges

In this paper, the challenges with and motivations for developing millimeter wave and terahertz communications are described. A high-bye candidate architecture is presented, and use cases highlighting the potential applicability of high-frequency links are discussed. Mobility challenges at these higher frequencies are also discussed. Difficulties that arise as a result of high carrier frequencies and higher path loss can be overcome by practical, higher-gain antennas that have the added benefit of reducing intercell interference. Simulation methodology and results are given. The results show that millimeter wave coverage is possible in large, outdoor spaces, and only a reasonable number of base stations are needed. Network throughput can exceed 25 Gbit/s, and cell-edge user throuqhput can reach aDoroximatelv 100 Mbit/s.

Numerical study on the modulation of THz wave propagation by collisional microplasma photonic crystal

In order to demonstrate the modulation of terahertz wave propagation in atmospheric pressure microplasmas,in this work,the band structure and the transmission characteristics of a onedimensional collisional microplasma photonic crystal are investigated,using the transfer matrix method.For a lattice constant of 150μm and a plasma width of 100μm,three stopbands of microplasma photonic crystal are observed,in a frequency range of 0.1-5 THz.Firstly,an increase in gas pressure leads to a decrease in the central frequency of the stopband.When the gas pressure increases from 50.5 k Pa to 202 k Pa,the transmission coefficient of the THz wave first increases and then decreases at high frequency,where the wave frequency is much greater than both the plasma frequency and the collision frequency.Secondly,it is interesting to find that the central frequency and the bandwidth of the first THz stopband remain almost unchanged for electron densities of less than 10^15 cm^-3,increasing significantly when the electron density increases up to 10^16 cm^-3.A central frequency shift of 110 GHz,and a bandgap broadening of 200 GHz in the first stopband are observed.In addition,an atmospheric pressure microplasma with the electron density of 1×10^15-6×10^15 cm^-3 is recommended for the modulation of THz wave propagation by plasma photonic crystals.

A Transmission-Type Electrically Tunable Polarizer Based on Graphene Ribbons at Terahertz Wave Band

We theoretically and numerically demonstrate that a transmission-type electrically tunable polarizer can be realized by using graphene ribbons supported on a dielectric film with a graphene sheet behind. The polarization mechanism originates from the antenna plasmon resonance of graphene stripes. The results of full-wave numerical simulations reveal that transmittance of 0.70 for one polarization and 0.0073 for another polarization can be obtained at normal incidence. The transmission-type electrically tunable polarizer provides and facilitates a variety of applications, including filtering, detecting, and imaging.

Multi-function terahertz wave manipulation utilizing Fourier convolution operation metasurface

We propose a novel metasurface based on a combined pattern of outer C-shaped ring and inner rectangular ring.By Fourier convolution operation to generating different predesigned sequences of metasurfaces,we realize various functionalities to flexible manipulate terahertz waves including vortex terahertz beam splitting,anomalous vortex terahertz wave deflection,vortex terahertz wave splitting and deflection simultaneously.The incident terahertz wave can be flexibly controlled in a single metasurface.The designed metasurface has an extensive application prospect in the field of future terahertz communication and sensing.

Rain Attenuation in the Microwave-to-Terahertz Waveband

In recent years, there has been increased interest in the terahertz waveband for application to ultra-high-speed wireless communications and remote sensing systems. However, atmospheric propagation at these wavelengths has a significant effect on the operational stability of systems using the terahertz waveband, so elucidating the effects of rain on propagation is a topic of high interest. We demonstrate various methods for calculating attenuation due to rain and evaluate these methods through comparison with calculated and experimental values. We find that in the 90 - 225 GHz microwave band, values calculated according to Mie scattering theory using the Best and P-S sleet raindrop size distributions best agree with experimental values. At 313 and 355 GHz terahertz-waveband frequencies, values calculated according to Mie scattering theory using the Weibull distribution and a prediction model following ITU-R recommendations best agree with experimental values. We furthermore find that attenuation due to rain increases in proportion to frequency for microwave-band frequencies below approximately 50 GHz, but that there is a peak at around 100 GHz, above which the degree of attenuation remains steady or decreases. Rain-induced attenuation increases in proportion to the rainfall intensity.