Efficient, tunable, and coherent 0.18-5.27-THz source based on GaSe crystal

Continuously tunable and coherent radiation in the wide range 56.8-1618 mum (0.18-5.27 THz) has been achieved as a novel and promising terahertz source based on collinear phase-matched difference frequency generation in a GaSe crystal. This source has the advantages of high coherence, simplicity for tuning, simple alignment, and stable output. The peak output power for the terahertz radiation reaches 69.4 W at a wavelength of 196 mum (1.53 THz), which corresponds to a photon conversion efficiency of 3.3%. A simple optimization of the design can yield a compact terahertz source. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.