A. J. L. Adam

Bendable, low-loss Topas fibers for the terahertz frequency range

We report on a new class of polymer photonic crystal fibers for low-loss guidance of THz radiation. The use of the cyclic olefin copolymer Topas, in combination with advanced fabrication technology, results in bendable THz fibers with unprecedented low loss and low material dispersion in the THz regime.We demonstrate experimentally how the dispersion may be engineered by fabricating both high- and low-dispersion fibers with zero-dispersion frequency in the regime 0.5-0.6 THz. Near-field, frequency-resolved characterization with high spatial resolution of the amplitude and phase of the modal structure proves that the fiber is single-moded over a wide frequency range, and we see the onset of higher-order modes at high frequencies as well as indication of microporous guiding at low frequencies and high porosity of the fiber. Transmission spectroscopy demonstrates low-loss propagation (< 0.1 dB/cm loss at 0.6 THz) over a wide frequency range.

Terahertz heterodyne receiver based on a quantum cascade laser and a superconducting bolometer

We report the first demonstration of an all solid-state heterodyne receiver that can be used for high-resolution spectroscopy above 2THz suitable for space-based observatories. The receiver uses a NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer as mixer and a quantum cascade laser operating at 2.8THz as local oscillator. We measure a double sideband receiver noise temperature of 1400K at 2.8THz and 4.2K, and find that the free-running QCL has sufficient power stability for a practical receiver, demonstrating an unprecedented combination of sensitivity and stability.

Beam patterns of terahertz quantum cascade lasers with subwavelength cavity dimensions

The need to reach single-mode lasing and minimize at the same time the electrical dissipation of cryogenically operated terahertz quantum cascade lasers may result in small and subwavelength cavity dimensions. To assess the influence of such dimensions on the shape of the laser emission, we have measured the beam pattern of two metal-metal cavity quantum cascade lasers. The patterns show regular angular intensity variations which depend on the length of the laser cavity. The physical origin of these features is discussed in terms of interference of the coherent radiation emitted by end and side facets of the laser bar.

Fourier-transform terahertz near-field imaging of one-dimensional slit arrays: mapping of electric-field-, magnetic-field-, and Poynting vectors

We present 2D measurements of the full THz electric field behind a sample consisting of multiple slits in a metal foil. Our measurements, which have a sub-wavelength spatial, and a sub-period temporal resolution, reveal electric field lines, electric field vortices and saddle points. From our measurements we are able to reconstruct the magnetic field and, finally, the position and time-dependent Poynting vector which shows the flow of energy behind the sample. Our results show that it is possible to study the flow of light near sub-wavelength plasmonic structures such as slit-arrays and, by implication, other metamaterial samples.

TeraHertz imaging of hidden paint layers on canvas

We present terahertz reflection images of hidden paint layers in a painting on canvas. We compare these with results obtained using X-ray Radiography and near-infrared imaging. Contrary to other techniques, we show that terahertz imaging is capable of providing information on the thickness of the hidden paint layers. We also present early results on reflection measurement of different colored paints applied on a thick copper plate.

Advanced terahertz electric near-field measurements at sub-wavelength diameter metallic apertures

Using terahertz-light excitation, we have measured with sub-wavelength spatial, and sub-cycle temporal resolution the time- and frequency-dependent electric-field and surface-charge density in the vicinity of small metallic holes. In addition to a singularity like concentration of the electric field near the hole edges, we observe, that holes can act as differential operators whose near-field output is the time-derivative of the incident electric field. Our results confirm the well-known predictions made by Bouwkamp, Philips Res. Rep. 5, 321-332 (1950), and reveal, with unprecedented detail, what physically happens when light passes through a small hole.

Terahertz Near-Field Vectorial Imaging of Subwavelength Apertures and Aperture Arrays

We present measurements of the complete terahertz (THz) electric near-field distribution, E(x), E(y) and E(z), in both the time- and frequency-domains, for subwavelength apertures and subsections of subwavelength aperture arrays. Measuring the individual components of the THz near-field with subwavelength spatial resolution, as they emerge from these structures, illustrates how the field interacts with the apertures. We observe the small but measurable y- and z-components of the electric field for both single apertures and arrays. Resonant contributions, attributed to Bloch modes, are detected and we observe the presence of a longitudinal field component, E(z), within the different array apertures, which can be attributed to a diffractive effect. These measurements illustrate in detail the individual THz field components emerging from subwavelength apertures and provide a direct measure of two important mechanisms that contribute to the net transmission of light through arrays.

THz near-field Faraday imaging in hybrid metamaterials

We report on direct measurements of the magnetic near-field of metamaterial split ring resonators at terahertz frequencies using a magnetic field sensitive material. Specifically, planar split ring resonators are fabricated on a single magneto-optically active terbium gallium garnet crystal. Normally incident terahertz radiation couples to the resonator inducing a magnetic dipole oscillating perpendicular to the crystal surface. Faraday rotation of the polarisation of a near-infrared probe beam directly measures the magnetic near-field with 100 femtosecond temporal resolution and (λ/200) spatial resolution. Numerical simulations suggest that the magnetic field can be enhanced in the plane of the resonator by as much as a factor of 200 compared to the incident field strength. Our results provide a route towards hybrid devices for dynamic magneto-active control of light such as isolators, and highlight the utility of split ring resonators as compact probes of magnetic phenomena in condensed matter.

Terahertz near-field microspectroscopy

Using near-field, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), we investigate how the addition of a dielectric material into a subwavelength-diameter, cylindrical waveguide affects its transmission properties. The THz electric near-field is imaged with deep subwavelength resolution as it emerges from filled and unfilled waveguides. Spectroscopic data measured for waveguides filled with polycrystalline D-tartaric acid, and with polyethylene and silicon powders, illustrate the feasibility of this approach for obtaining spectroscopic information from a tiny sample volume.

Enhanced terahertz emission by coherent optical absorption in ultrathin semiconductor films on metals.

We report on the surprisingly strong, broadband emission of coherent terahertz pulses from ultrathin layers of semiconductors such as amorphous silicon, germanium and polycrystalline cuprous oxide deposited on gold, upon illumination with femtosecond laser pulses. The strength of the emission is surprising because the materials are considered to be bad (amorphous silicon and polycrystalline cuprous oxide) or fair (amorphous germanium) terahertz emitters at best. We show that the strength of the emission is partly explained by cavity-enhanced optical absorption. This forces most of the light to be absorbed in the depletion region of the semiconductor/metal interface where terahertz generation occurs. For an excitation wavelength of 800 nm, the strongest terahertz emission is found for a 25 nm thick layer of amorphous germanium, a 40 nm thick layer of amorphous silicon and a 420 nm thick layer of cuprous oxide, all on gold. The emission from cuprous oxide is similar in strength to that obtained with optical rectification from a 300 μm thick gallium phosphide crystal. As an application of our findings we demonstrate how such thin films can be used to turn standard optical components, such as paraboloidal mirrors, into self-focusing terahertz emitters.