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Kim H, Kang C, Jang D, Roh Y, Lee SH, Lee JW, Sung JH, Lee SK, Kim KY. Ionizing terahertz waves with 260 MV/cm from scalable optical rectification. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2024; 13:118. [PMID: 38802347 PMCID: PMC11130333 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01462-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Terahertz (THz) waves, known as non-ionizing radiation owing to their low photon energies, can actually ionize atoms and molecules when a sufficiently large number of THz photons are concentrated in time and space. Here, we demonstrate the generation of ionizing, multicycle, 15-THz waves emitted from large-area lithium niobate crystals via phase-matched optical rectification of 150-terawatt laser pulses. A complete characterization of the generated THz waves in energy, pulse duration, and focal spot size shows that the field strength can reach up to 260 megavolts per centimeter. In particular, a single-shot THz interferometer is employed to measure the THz pulse duration and spectrum with complementary numerical simulations. Such intense THz pulses are irradiated onto various solid targets to demonstrate THz-induced tunneling ionization and plasma formation. This study also discusses the potential of nonperturbative THz-driven ionization in gases, which will open up new opportunities, including nonlinear and relativistic THz physics in plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeongmun Kim
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Department of Physics and Optoelectronics Convergence Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Korea
| | - Chul Kang
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea.
| | - Dogeun Jang
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Korea
| | - Yulan Roh
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Sang Hwa Lee
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Joong Wook Lee
- Department of Physics and Optoelectronics Convergence Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Korea
| | - Jae Hee Sung
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Seong Ku Lee
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Ki-Yong Kim
- Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics; Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA.
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Nam I, Eom I, Kim M, Cho M, Jang D. Optimized terahertz pulse generation with chirped pump pulses from an echelon-based tilted-pulse-front (TPF) scheme. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:26969-26979. [PMID: 37710545 DOI: 10.1364/oe.495481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
We successfully demonstrated the generation of single-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses through tilted-pulse-front (TPF) pumping using a reflective echelon in a lithium niobate crystal. By optimizing the pump pulse duration using a chirp, we achieved a maximum pump-to-THz conversion efficiency of 0.39%. However, we observed that the saturation behavior began at a relatively low pump energy (0.37 mJ), corresponding to a pump intensity of 22 GW/cm2. To elucidate this behavior, we measured the near- and far-field THz beam profiles and found variations in their beam characteristics, such as the beam size, location, and divergence angle in the plane of the tilted pulse direction, with the pump energy (intensity). This nonlinear behavior is attributed to the reduced effective interaction length, which ultimately leads to the saturation of THz generation. The results obtained from our study suggest that it is feasible to develop an effective THz source using echelon-based TPF pumping while also considering the impact of nonlinear saturation effects.
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Wu X, Kong D, Hao S, Zeng Y, Yu X, Zhang B, Dai M, Liu S, Wang J, Ren Z, Chen S, Sang J, Wang K, Zhang D, Liu Z, Gui J, Yang X, Xu Y, Leng Y, Li Y, Song L, Tian Y, Li R. Generation of 13.9-mJ Terahertz Radiation from Lithium Niobate Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2208947. [PMID: 36932897 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Extremely strong-field terahertz (THz) radiation in free space has compelling applications in nonequilibrium condensed matter state regulation, all-optical THz electron acceleration and manipulation, THz biological effects, etc. However, these practical applications are constrained by the absence of high-intensity, high-efficiency, high-beam-quality, and stable solid-state THz light sources. Here, the generation of single-cycle 13.9-mJ extreme THz pulses from cryogenically cooled lithium niobate crystals and a 1.2% energy conversion efficiency from 800 nm to THz are demonstrated experimentally using the tilted pulse-front technique driven by a home-built 30-fs, 1.2-Joule Ti:sapphire laser amplifier. The focused peak electric field strength is estimated to be 7.5 MV cm-1 . A record of 1.1-mJ THz single-pulse energy at a 450 mJ pump at room temperature is produced and observed that the self-phase modulation of the optical pump can induce THz saturation behavior from the crystals in the substantially nonlinear pump regime. This study lays the foundation for the generation of sub-Joule THz radiation from lithium niobate crystals and will inspire more innovations in extreme THz science and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Wu
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, and School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Zhangjiang Laboratory, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Deyin Kong
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, and School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Zhangjiang Laboratory, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Sibo Hao
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, and School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yushan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Xieqiu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Baolong Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Mingcong Dai
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, and School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Shaojie Liu
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, and School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, and School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zejun Ren
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, and School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Sai Chen
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, and School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jianhua Sang
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Kang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Dongdong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Zhongkai Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- ShanghaiTech Laboratory for Topological Physics, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jiayan Gui
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Xiaojun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Yi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Yuxin Leng
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Yutong Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Liwei Song
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Ye Tian
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Ruxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics and CAS Center for Excellence in Ultra-intense Laser Science, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
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Nazarov MM, Shcheglov PA, Teplyakov VV, Chashchin MV, Mitrofanov AV, Sidorov-Biryukov DA, Panchenko VY, Zheltikov AM. Broadband terahertz generation by optical rectification of ultrashort multiterawatt laser pulses near the beam breakup threshold. OPTICS LETTERS 2021; 46:5866-5869. [PMID: 34851910 DOI: 10.1364/ol.434759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We identify the physical factors that limit the terahertz (THz) yield of an optical rectification (OR) of ultrashort multiterawatt laser pulses in large-area quadratically nonlinear crystals. We show that the THz yield tends to slow its growth as a function of the laser driver energy, saturate, and eventually decrease as the laser beam picks up a spatiotemporal phase due to the intensity-dependent refraction of the OR crystal. We demonstrate that, with a careful management of the driver intensity aimed at keeping the nonlinear length larger than the coherence length, OR-based broadband THz generation in large-area lithium niobate (LN) crystals is energy-scalable, enabling an OR of multiterawatt laser pulses, yielding ∼10µJ/cm2 of THz output energy per unit crystal area. With a 27-fs, 10-TW, 800-nm Ti:sapphire laser output used as a driver for OR in large-area LN crystals, this approach is shown to provide a THz output with a pulse energy above 10 µJ and a bandwidth extending well beyond 6 THz, supporting single-cycle THz waveforms.
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Cherkasova OP, Serdyukov DS, Nemova EF, Ratushnyak AS, Kucheryavenko AS, Dolganova IN, Xu G, Skorobogatiy M, Reshetov IV, Timashev PS, Spektor IE, Zaytsev KI, Tuchin VV. Cellular effects of terahertz waves. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2021; 26:JBO-210179VR. [PMID: 34595886 PMCID: PMC8483303 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.26.9.090902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE An increasing interest in the area of biological effects at exposure of tissues and cells to the terahertz (THz) radiation is driven by a rapid progress in THz biophotonics, observed during the past decades. Despite the attractiveness of THz technology for medical diagnosis and therapy, there is still quite limited knowledge about safe limits of THz exposure. Different modes of THz exposure of tissues and cells, including continuous-wave versus pulsed radiation, various powers, and number and duration of exposure cycles, ought to be systematically studied. AIM We provide an overview of recent research results in the area of biological effects at exposure of tissues and cells to THz waves. APPROACH We start with a brief overview of general features of the THz-wave-tissue interactions, as well as modern THz emitters, with an emphasis on those that are reliable for studying the biological effects of THz waves. Then, we consider three levels of biological system organization, at which the exposure effects are considered: (i) solutions of biological molecules; (ii) cultures of cells, individual cells, and cell structures; and (iii) entire organs or organisms; special attention is devoted to the cellular level. We distinguish thermal and nonthermal mechanisms of THz-wave-cell interactions and discuss a problem of adequate estimation of the THz biological effects' specificity. The problem of experimental data reproducibility, caused by rareness of the THz experimental setups and an absence of unitary protocols, is also considered. RESULTS The summarized data demonstrate the current stage of the research activity and knowledge about the THz exposure on living objects. CONCLUSIONS This review helps the biomedical optics community to summarize up-to-date knowledge in the area of cell exposure to THz radiation, and paves the ways for the development of THz safety standards and THz therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga P. Cherkasova
- Institute of Laser Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
- Novosibirsk State Technical University, Russian Federation
| | - Danil S. Serdyukov
- Institute of Laser Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
- Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
| | - Eugenia F. Nemova
- Institute of Laser Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander S. Ratushnyak
- Institute of Computational Technologies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
| | - Anna S. Kucheryavenko
- Institute of Solid State Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
| | - Irina N. Dolganova
- Institute of Solid State Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
- Sechenov University, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Russian Federation
- Sechenov University, World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare,” Russian Federation
| | - Guofu Xu
- Polytechnique Montreal, Department of Engineering Physics, Canada
| | | | - Igor V. Reshetov
- Sechenov University, Institute for Cluster Oncology, Russian Federation
- Academy of Postgraduate Education FSCC FMBA, Russian Federation
| | - Peter S. Timashev
- Sechenov University, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Russian Federation
- Sechenov University, World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare,” Russian Federation
- N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Department of Polymers and Composites, Russian Federation
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Department of Chemistry, Russian Federation
| | - Igor E. Spektor
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
| | - Kirill I. Zaytsev
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
- Sechenov University, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Russian Federation
- Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Russian Federation
| | - Valery V. Tuchin
- Saratov State University, Russian Federation
- Institute of Precision Mechanics and Control of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation
- National Research Tomsk State University, Russian Federation
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Tian Q, Xu H, Wang Y, Liang Y, Tan Y, Ning X, Yan L, Du Y, Li R, Hua J, Huang W, Tang C. Efficient generation of a high-field terahertz pulse train in bulk lithium niobate crystals by optical rectification. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:9624-9634. [PMID: 33820386 DOI: 10.1364/oe.419709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a highly efficient method for the generation of a high-field terahertz (THz) pulse train via optical rectification (OR) in congruent lithium niobate (LN) crystals driven by temporally shaped laser pulses. A narrowband THz pulse has been successfully achieved with sub-percent level conversion efficiency and multi MV/cm peak field at 0.26 THz. For the single-cycle THz generation, we achieved a THz pulse with 373-μJ energy in a LN crystal excited by a 100-mJ laser pulse at room temperature. The conversion efficiency is further improved to 0.77 % pumped by a 20-mJ laser pulse with a smaller pump beam size (6 mm in horizontal and 15 mm in vertical). This method holds great potential for generating mJ-level narrow-band THz pulse trains, which may have a major impact in mJ-scale applications like terahertz-based accelerators and light sources.
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Jang D, Kim KY. Multicycle terahertz pulse generation by optical rectification in LiNbO 3, LiTaO 3, and BBO crystals. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:21220-21235. [PMID: 32680167 DOI: 10.1364/oe.398268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report multicycle, narrowband, terahertz radiation at 14.8 THz produced by phase-matched optical rectification of femtosecond laser pulses in bulk lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystals. Our experiment and simulation show that the output terahertz energy greatly enhances when the input laser pulse is highly chirped, contrary to a common optical rectification process. We find this abnormal behavior is attributed to a linear electro-optic (EO) effect, in which the laser pulse propagating in LiNbO3 is modulated by the terahertz field it produces, and this in turn drives optical rectification more effectively to produce the terahertz field. This resonant cascading effect can greatly increase terahertz conversion efficiencies when the input laser pulse is properly pre-chirped with additional third order dispersion. We also observe similar multicycle terahertz emission from lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) at 14 THz and barium borate (BBO) at 7 THz, 10.6 THz, and 14.6 THz, all produced by narrowband phase-matched optical rectification.
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Jang D, Sung JH, Lee SK, Kang C, Kim KY. Generation of 0.7 mJ multicycle 15 THz radiation by phase-matched optical rectification in lithium niobate. OPTICS LETTERS 2020; 45:3617-3620. [PMID: 32630913 DOI: 10.1364/ol.393913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate efficient multicycle terahertz pulse generation at 14.6 THz from large-area lithium niobate crystals by using high-energy (up to 2 J) femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser pulses. Such terahertz radiation is produced by phase-matched optical rectification in lithium niobate. Experimentally, we achieve maximal terahertz energy of 0.71 mJ with conversion efficiency of ∼0.04%. Our experimental setup is simple and easily upscalable to produce multi-millijoule, multicycle terahertz radiation with proper lithium niobate crystals.
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