Searching for new THz science

The generation and detection of intense THz radiation has drawn a great attention recently. The dramatically enhanced energy, peak power, and peak electric field of the coherent THz radiation can be generated from the coherent superposition of the radiated fields emitted by ultrafast electron bunches. The fs-THz beamline construction program at PAL (Pohang Accelerator Laboratory), which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009, is underway to generate ultrafast and intense fs-THz radiation from 60 MeV linac (linear accelerator). The radiation is expected to cover up to 3 THz (ap100 cm^-1) and the pulse width to be less than 200 fs. The mechanical and optical designs of the beamline are discussed. This intense THz source has a great potential for applications in nonlinear optical phenomena as well as material science, biomedical science, chemistry, physics, etc.