Abstract

Research efforts two decades ago attempted to produce TeraHertz sources using all optical technology [1] - [4]. Many authors reported widely tunable THz generation using difference frequency generation, however, many of these early efforts were unable to achieve the output powers needed for a practical device. Since these early experiments, the state-of-the-art of both the solid-state laser industry and the nonlinear crystal industry have improved dramatically. In April 1996, Kawase et. al. reported successful generation of coherent tunable THz-waves using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and a LiNbO₃ crystal [5]. To this authors knowledge, this was the first reporting of successful generation of TeraHertz waves using this method since 1976. However, the implementation that they chose can be significantly improved upon through a different choice of nonlinear crystal as well as with other techniques.

© 1996 Optical Society of America