Abstract

The generation of diffraction limited beams of single-cycle 0.5 terahertz electromagnetic pulses is described. The beams, centimeters in diameter, have a frequency independent divergence of only 15 mrad and have been propagated distances up to 350 cm. The very high collection efficiency of the optical system used for the generation and the detection of these beams provides exceptionally clean and sensitive reception of the transmitted signal. A spectral characterization of water vapor in the intervening ambient air is also presented.

© 1989 Optical Society of America