Continuous-wave optical parametric terahertz source

Here, we present a continuous-wave optical parametric terahertz light source that does not require cooling. It coherently emits a diffraction-limited terahertz beam that is tunable from 1.3 to 1.7 THz with power levels exceeding 1 mu m W. Simultaneous phase matching of two nonlinear processes within one periodically-poled lithium niobate crystal, situated in an optical resonator, is employed: The signal wave of a primary parametric process is enhanced in this resonator. Therefore, its power is sufficient for starting a second process, generating a backwards traveling terahertz wave. Such a scheme of cascaded processes increases the output power of a terahertz system by more than one order of magnitude compared with non-resonant difference frequency generation due to high intracavity powers. The existence of linearly polarized terahertz radiation at 1.35 THz is confirmed by analyzing the terahertz light with metal grid polarizers and a Fabry-Perot interferometer. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America