Generation of Elliptically Polarized Terahertz Waves from Laser-Induced Plasma with Double Helix Electrodes

Xiaofei Lu and X.-C. Zhang

Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 123903 – Published 21 March 2012

Abstract

By applying a helical electric field along a plasma region, a revolving electron current is formed along the plasma and an elliptically polarized far-field terahertz wave pattern is observed. The observed terahertz wave polarization reveals the remarkable role of velocity retardation between optical pulses and generated terahertz pulses in the generation process. Extensive simulations, including longitudinal propagation effects, are performed to clarify the mechanisms responsible for polarization control of air-plasma-based terahertz sources.

Received 6 June 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.123903

Authors & Affiliations

Xiaofei Lu² and X.-C. Zhang^1,2,*

¹Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
²Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Center for Terahertz Research, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA