High-power source of THz radiation based on orientation-patterned GaAs pumped by a fiber laser

We demonstrate a new source of frequency-tunable THz wave packets based on parametric down-conversion process in orientation-patterned GaAs (OP-GaAs) that produces mu W-level THz average powers at the repetition rate of 100 MHz. The OP-GaAs crystal is pumped by a compact all-fiber femtosecond laser operating at the wavelength of 2 mu m. Such combination of fiber laser and OP-GaAs technologies promises a practical source of THz radiation which should be suitable for many applications including imaging and spectroscopy. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.