Abstract

We experimentally demonstrated terahertz (THz) wave emission from thin metal (gold) films excited by asymmetrical optical fields synthesized using an in-line phase compensator. By driving the electrons in thin metal films asymmetrically, THz wave emission is observed at normal incidence of two-color pump beams. Coherent control of THz wave emission from metal films suggests that a mechanism similar to that of the air-plasma THz source excited by two-color laser fields can be used to describe the generation processes.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

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