Generation of 1.5 μJ single-cycle terahertz pulses by optical rectification from a large aperture ZnTe crystal

We demonstrate the generation mu J-level, single-cycle terahertz pulses by optical rectification from a large-aperture ZnTe single crystal wafer. Energies up to 1.5 mu J per pulse and a spectral range extending to 3 THz were obtained using a 100 Hz Ti:sapphire laser source and a 75-mm-diameter, 0.5-mm-thick, (110) ZnTe crystal, corresponding to an average power of 150 mu W and an energy conversion efficiency of 3.1 x 10(-5). We also demonstrate real-time imaging of the focused terahertz beam using a pyroelectric infrared camera. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America.