Emitting and Receiving Terahertz Vectorial Antennas Based on Cubic Electro-Optic Crystals

Based on optical rectification in a ZnTe crystal, a vectorial terahertz (THz) emitter is here theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. The use of the particular orientation 〈111〉 leads to a polarization state angle tunable THz source. This configuration requires only an optical wave plate to manage the impinging optical polarization state, thus adjusting the transverse THz electric field orientation. Moreover, the optical rectification efficiency as well as the THz signal bandwidth remain constant from horizontal to vertical Terahertz polarization. The same crystal, acting then like a THz receiver, allows to perform the vectorial analysis of a THz pulse.