B. O. Volodkin

Generation of Terahertz Surface Plasmon Polaritons Using Nondiffractive Bessel Beams with Orbital Angular Momentum.

Bessel vortex beams with topological charges of l=±1 and l=±2 were produced in the terahertz spectral range from a free electron laser Gaussian beam (λ=141  μm) transformed using silicon binary diffractive optical elements. The spatial characteristics of the beams were obtained using a microbolometer array. A radius to path length ratio of 1:100 was achieved for nondiffractive beams with the average power of 30 W. Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on gold-zinc-sulphide-air interfaces were generated due to diffraction of vortex beams on a sample edge. A new effect, a dependence of the efficiency of SPP generation on the direction of the azimuthal component of incident-radiation Poynting vector, was revealed.

Silicon diffractive optical elements for high-power monochromatic terahertz radiation

This paper presents a fabrication technique and results of studies of silicon binary diffractive optical elements (DOEs): a diffractive lens and a 1 : 2 diffractive beam splitter with an aperture diameter of 30 mm for the terahertz spectral range. The elements were fabricated in two versions: with and without an antireflection coating of parylene C. The DOE characteristics were investigated in the beam of the Novosibirsk free electron laser at a wavelength of 141 μm. The results are given of a study of the radiation resistance of the coating, which remained intact upon exposure to an average radiation power density of 4 kW/cm2; the peak power in a 100 ps pulse was almost 8 MW/cm2. Experimental estimates of the diffraction efficiency of the elements coated with the antireflection coating are in good agreement with theoretical estimates.

Optical elements for focusing of terahertz laser radiation in a given two-dimensional domain

Binary silicon-based diffractive optical element (DOE)—Gaussian-to-Square focuser (diameter of aperture is 30 mm) for the terahertz spectral range has been designed and characterized using terahertz radiation of the Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser (NovoFEL) at the wavelength of 141 μm. The preliminary experiments have demonstrated feasibility of application of binary silicon DOE for focusing of terahertz radiation into pre-given focal domain.

Diffractive lenses for high-power terahertz radiation beams

Techniques for manufacturing silicon binary (two-level) diffractive lenses and polypropylene kinoform diffractive lenses for the terahertz spectrum range are described. The elements are 1 and 0.8 mm thick, respectively. The silicon lens is manufactured in two versions: with no coating and with a parylene C (polyparaxylylene) antireflection coating. Characteristics of the diffractive optical elements are studied in the beam of a pulse-periodic free electron laser at a radiation wavelength of 141 μm and a repetition rate of 5.6MHz. The radiation resistance of the parylene coating, tested on the Novosibirsk free electron laser, was not impaired when the coating was exposed to an average power density of 4 kW cm−2, the peak power in a 100-picosecond pulse being almost 8 MW cm−2.

Thin copper film for plasma etching of quartz

We discuss a method for generating a diffractive optical microrelief by plasmochemical etching with the use of a masking copper layer.

Focusing of Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser (NovoFEL) radiation into paraxial segment

Abstract We demonstrate results of studies of a silicon binary diffractive optical element (DOE) focusing a terahertz laser Gaussian beam into a paraxial segment. The characteristics of the DOE were examined on a Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser beam of 141-μm wavelength.

Spectrum of spatial frequency of terahertz vortex Bessel beams formed using phase plates with spiral zones

This paper presents the first numerical and experimental investigation into the angular spectrum of terahertz Bessel beam with orbital angular momentum generated by a phase plate with spiral zones. The plate was exposed to a Gaussian beam of the Novosibirsk free electron laser. The Bessel beam formed was passed through a collecting lens. The distribution of the intensity of radiation with a wavelength of 141 microns before and after the focusing lens was recorded by a microbolometer array, which was moved along the optical axis by a motorized translation stage. The experimentally measured intensity distributions over the beam cross section recorded along the optical axis are in good agreement with numerical calculations.