Broadband and gap-free response of a terahertz system based on a poled polymer emitter-sensor pair

We present a terahertz (THz) system based on a poled electro-optic (EO) polymer emitter-sensor pair for the generation and detection of broadband electromagnetic pulses free of spectral gaps. The gap-free THz spectrum obtained from the system is attributed to the amorphous form of the EO polymer films. Using similar to 50-fs laser pulses centered at similar to 800 nm, a similar to 100-mu m thick emitter, and a similar to 180-mu m thick sensor, the observable bandwidth is similar to 12 THz. We also present an experimental study, in a systematic manner, on the effect of phase mismatch in the polymer emitter-sensor pair. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.