High-Brightness Continuously Tunable Narrowband Subterahertz Wave Generation

We report on the generation of high-brightness (high peak power and narrow linewidth) continuously tunable subterahertz waves by optical parametric wavelength conversion using lithium niobate as a nonlinear optical crystal. The high-brightness subterahertz waves were achieved by expanding the interaction volume of the pumping beam and the idler wave, as well as the subterahertz wave, during wavelength conversion and by injecting the seeding beam into the idler wave. We could continuously tune the wavelengths of the generated subterahertz waves by controlling the angle and wavelength difference between the pumping and injection seeding beams to satisfy the noncollinear phase-matching conditions. The high-brightness (maximum peak output power, linewidth) and tunable range were about 10 MW/sr.cm(2) (> 7 kW,< 5 GHz), and 760-150 mu m (0.39-2 THz), respectively.