Low-Frequency Content of THz Emission from Two-Color Femtosecond Filament

We experimentally investigate the low-frequency (below 1 THz) spectral content of broadband terahertz (THz) emission from two-color femtosecond filament formed by the 2.7-mJ, 40-fs, 800+400-nm pulse focused into air. For incoherent detection, we screened the Golay cell by the bandpass filters and measured the THz angular distributions at the selected frequencies ν=0.5, 1, 2 and 3 THz. The measured distributions of THz fluence were integrated over the forward hemisphere taking into account the transmittance of the filters, thus providing the estimation of spectral power at the frequencies studied. The spectral power decreases monotonically with the frequency increasing from 0.5 to 3 THz, thus showing that the maximum of THz spectrum is attained at ν≤0.5 THz. The THz waveform measured by electro-optical sampling (EOS) based on ZnTe crystal and transformed into the spectral domain shows that there exists the local maximum of the THz spectral power at ν≈1 THz. This disagrees with monotonic decrease of THz spectral power obtained from the filter-based measurements. We have introduced the correction to the spectral power reconstructed from EOS measurements. This correction takes into account different focal spot size for different THz frequencies contained in the broadband electromagnetic pulse. The corrected EOS spectral power is in semi-quantitative agreement with the one measured by a set of filters.

Sensitivity of the tetraaminodiphenyl based pyroelectric sensor from visible to sub-THz range

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the spectral sensitivity characteristics of new pyroelectric sensor based on tetraaminodiphenyl film within the wavelength range of 0.4-10 µm and 300-3,000 µm. Design/methodology/approach Mylar film with the thickness of about 70 µm was used as the input window. The MDR-41 monochromator-based spectrometric complex and the quasi-optical spectrometer with the set of backward-wave oscillators were used for measurements of the pyrodetector spectral characteristics within the 0.4-10 µm and 300-3,000 µm ranges, respectively. Findings Mylar was found to have absorption lines within the range of 0.4-10 µm, which must be taken into account when broadband detectors developing. The noise equivalent power in the visible and infrared ranges was less than 6 × 10–10 W/Hz1/2, which is about five times lower than for analogue ones. In the sub-THz range, the pyrodetector sensitivity is 2-8 times higher than the Golay cell. The sensitivity of such pyrodetector weakly depends on the wavelength in the total measured range. Practical implications The pyroelectric sensor has good prospects for use in super wide spectral range, from ultraviolet to millimeter radiation, in spectrometers for scientific research, in industry for the operational control of THz radiation sources, as well as in security THz-systems. Originality/value The spectral sensitivity characteristics of the pyroelectric photosensor based on TADPh in the visible, infrared and terahertz ranges were measured. The prospects for the use of such sensors were determined.