Generation of high average power 1 kHz shaped THz pulses via optical rectification

Generation of near single-cycle THz pulses from lithium niobate with 3.3 mu J energy, 3.3 mW average power, 1.2 THz central frequency and 4 MW peak power was demonstrated by tilting the intensity front of the pump pulses from a 1 kHz Ti:sapphire laser. THz pulse intensity as high as 200 MW/cm(2) was achieved. The energy conversion efficiency was 7 x 10(-4). The capability of the present scheme to generate high energy shaped THz pulses was also demonstrated by using a sequence of optical pump pulses. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.