Terahertz beam with radial or orthogonal to laser polarization from a single-color femtosecond filament

Abstract

At the selected frequencies from 0.3 to 10 THz we measured the two-dimensional (2D) distributions of fluence and polarization of terahertz (THz) emission from a single-color femtosecond filament. At the majority of frequencies studied, the THz beam has a donut-like shape with azimuthal modulations and radial polarization. At the maximal modulation, THz beam takes the form of the two lobes and polarization of the THz field degenerates into orthogonal to the laser pulse polarization direction. Violation of the radially polarized donut beam shape is due to destructive interference of THz waves driven by light pressure directed along the laser beam propagation axis and ponderomotive force parallel to the laser polarization.