Efficient generation of backward terahertz pulses from multiperiod periodically poled lithium niobate

Backward terahertz pulses were converted from ultrafast pulses of a laser amplifier within multiperiod periodically poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) wafers. The average output powers of more than 2 mu W were obtained from all six domain periods, corresponding to the frequency range of 217 GHz-2.373 THz. Among the six periods, the highest output power of 10.7 mu W and the narrowest linewidth of 5.98 GHz were achieved at the periods of 66.5 mu m and 150.0 mu m, respectively. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America