Compact Fiber-Pumped Terahertz Source Based on Difference Frequency Mixing in ZGP

Author

Creeden, Daniel ; McCarthy, John C. ; Ketteridge, Peter A. ; Southward, Timothy ; Schunemann, Peter G. ; Komiak, James J. ; Dove, Webster ; Chicklis, Evan P.

Author_Institution

BAE Syst. Electron. & Integrated Solutions, Nashua

Volume

13

Issue

3

fYear

2007

Firstpage

732

Lastpage

737

Abstract

We have demonstrated a novel terahertz source based on dual-wavelength amplification in polarization maintaining Yb- doped fiber and frequency mixing in a zinc germanium phosphide (ZGP) crystal. The system consists of two orthogonally polarized signals, whose difference frequency is in the terahertz region, amplified in a single all-fiber amplifier chain and mixed in a ZGP crystal to generate high-peak-power terahertz radiation. Currently, 2 mW of average terahertz power (20 W peak, 20 nJ/pulse) has been produced at a repetition rate of 100 kHz and pulsewidths of 1 ns with a conversion efficiency of 0.137%. We have also developed a terahertz mixing model, which coincides well with our experimental data.

Keywords

germanium compounds; optical fibre amplifiers; optical fibre polarisation; optical frequency conversion; optical materials; optical pumping; submillimetre wave generation; ytterbium; zinc compounds; ZnGeP₂; compact fiber-pumped terahertz source; difference frequency mixing; dual-wavelength amplification; efficiency 0.137 percent; orthogonally polarized signals; polarization maintaining fiber; power 2 mW; single all-fiber amplifier chain; terahertz mixing model; time 1 ns; zinc germanium phosphide crystal; Biomedical optical imaging; Fiber nonlinear optics; Frequency; Optical fiber polarization; Optical imaging; Optical mixing; Optical pulses; Optical pumping; Pulse amplifiers; Ultrafast optics; Nonlinear optics; optical fiber amplifiers; optical fiber applications;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTQE.2007.896569

Filename

4244413