Wenfeng Sun

Terahertz polarization real-time imaging based on balanced electro-optic detection

A terahertz (THz) polarization real-time imaging system that can effectively reduce experimental time consumption for acquiring a samples polarization information is achieved. An alternative THz polarization measurement method is proposed. In this method, a <110> zinc-blende crystal is used as the sensor, and the probe polarization is adjusted to detect THz electric fields on the two orthogonal polarization components. The relative sensitivity of the imaging system to the THz polarization angle is estimated to be less than 0.5°. To illustrate the ability of the system, two samples are designed and measured by using the system. From their THz polarization real-time images, each region of these samples can be precisely presented. Experimental results clearly show the special influences of different materials on the THz polarization. This work effectively extends the information content obtained by THz real-time imaging and improves the feasibility of the imaging technique.

Spin-selected focusing and imaging based on metasurface lens.

Spin of light provides a route to control photons. Spin-based optical devices which can manipulate photons with different spin states are imperative. Here we experimentally demonstrated a spin-selected metasurface lens based on the spin-orbit interaction originated from the Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase. The optimized PB phase enables the light with different spin states to be focused on two separated points in the preset plane. Furthermore, the metasurface lens can perform the spin-selected imaging according to the polarization of the illuminating light. Such a spin-based device capacitates a lot of advanced applications for spin-controlled photonics in quantum information processing and communication based on the spin and orbit angular momentum.

Coaxial waveguide mode reconstruction and analysis with THz digital holography.

Terahertz (THz) digital holography is employed to investigate the properties of waveguides. By using a THz digital holographic imaging system, the propagation modes of a metallic coaxial waveguide are measured and the mode patterns are restored with the inverse Fresnel diffraction algorithm. The experimental results show that the THz propagation mode inside the waveguide is a combination of four modes TE₁₁, TE₁₂, TM₁₁, and TM₁₂, which are in good agreement with the simulation results. In this work, THz digital holography presents its strong potential as a platform for waveguide mode charactering. The experimental findings provide a valuable reference for the design of THz waveguides.

Terahertz pulse reflective focal-plane tomography.

An effective terahertz (THz) imaging technology is presented for achieving tomographic image. A THz pulse reflective focal-plane imaging system is built up and the tomographic image of a metallic cross hidden by a high resistivity Si wafer is achieved. Using the reflected pulses from each interface, the thickness of each layer can be calculated with calculation error below 2.5%. This work demonstrates that the THz pulse focal-plane tomography can be used to analysis interior configuration of the object.

Accurate determination of terahertz optical constants by vector network analyzer of Fabry–Perot response

We present a method based on a Fabry-Perot model to efficiently and accurately estimate optical constants of wafer samples in transmission-only measurements performed by a vector network analyzer (VNA). The method is demonstrated on two separate wafer samples: one of silicon and the other of polymethylmethacrylate. Results show that the method can not only acquire optical constants accurately and simply over a broad frequency domain but also overcome the limitations of calculation for dispersive and lossy materials to which existing methods are susceptible, such as those based on VNA-driven quasi-optical transmissometers and terahertz time-domain spectrometry.

Terahertz Tunable Metasurface Lens Based on Vanadium Dioxide Phase Transition

Based on the insulator-to-metal phase transition of vanadium dioxide (VO 2), a terahertz (THz) tunable metasurface lens (TML), which consists of a THz metasurface lens and a VO 2 film on Al 2O3 substrate, is proposed and experimentally verified. The focal intensity of the TML can be thermally controlled. The changes of the cross-polarized amplitude spectrum and the focal intensity during the heating and cooling processes are also investigated in detail. Any desired focal intensity can be obtained by adjusting the TML temperature. This TML and its approach will be of great significance for the development of the THz active devices.

Focusing and imaging of a virtual all-optical tunable terahertz Fresnel zone plate

A virtual all-optical tunable terahertz Fresnel zone plate is achieved utilizing the localized distribution of the transient electron plasma on a silicon wafer. Its focusing and imaging performance are experimentally demonstrated. Experimental results show that the effect of the virtual zone plate is the same as an actual one. Adjusting the spatial pattern of the electron plasma, the central wavelength and the focal length of the virtual zone plate can be all-optically dynamically steered. The research is a significant step to the development of tunable optical imaging elements.

Complete presentation of the Gouy phase shift with the THz digital holography

Three dimensional information of the Gouy phase shift in a converging spherical terahertz (THz) beam is directly observed by using a THz balanced electro-optic holographic imaging system. The major properties of the Gouy phase shift are presented, including the longitudinal and transverse distributions, relationships with the frequency and the f-number, influence on the THz polarization. The imaging technique supplies an accurate and comprehensive measurement method for observing and understanding the Gouy phase shift.

Full vector measurements of converging terahertz beams with linear, circular, and cylindrical vortex polarization.

The complete vector information of converging terahertz (THz) beams with linear, circular, and cylindrical vortex polarization are precisely measured by using a THz digital holographic imaging system. The transverse (Ex, Ey) and longitudinal (Ez) polarization components of the THz fields around the focal point are separately obtained utilizing the detection crystals with different crystalline orientations. The measured results are in good agreement with the theoretical expectations. This imaging technique provides an effective way for revealing the vector diffraction properties of the THz electro-magnetic waves.

External electric field control of THz pulse generation in ambient air

A theoretical model has been proposed to describe the dependence of the THz wave generated in a laser-induced air plasma on the external electric field. Using this model we predict the following, (i) previously observed results show that the THz pulse enhances linearly with the increase of the external field; (ii) the THz pulse varies as a cosine function with the angle between the direction of the external electric field and the polarization of the incident exciting beam; (iii) and the amplitude is proportional to the square of the intensity of the incident pulse in a low energy region. These predictions are validated by our experiment.