Simulation study on cascaded terahertz pulse generation in electro-optic crystals

We studied cascaded optical rectification processes for intense terahertz (THz) pulse generation in electro-optic crystals using simulations based on one-dimensional coupled propagation equations of THz and optical fields. We found that under ideal conditions of perfect phase matching and no absorption, cascaded optical rectification processes produce intense THz pulses with efficiencies exceeding the Manley-Rowe limit. Large red shifting of the pump light spectrum was observed. Effects of finite optical and THz absorption, phase mismatches, and pulse width were examined using parameters of a ZnTe crystal pumped by 800 nm pulses. THz field enhancement by multiple pulse pumping was also studied. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America