High-power two-color plasma-based THz generation driven by a Tm-doped fiber laser

Abstract

We report on the efficient generation of broadband THz radiation based on a two-color gas–plasma scheme. Broadband THz pulses covering the whole THz spectral region, from 0.1–35 THz, are generated. This is enabled by a high-power, ultra-fast, thulium-doped, fiber chirped pulse amplification (Tm:FCPA) system and a subsequent nonlinear pulse compression stage that uses a gas-filled capillary. The driving source delivers 40 fs pulses at a central wavelength of 1.9 μm with 1.2 mJ pulse energy and 101 kHz repetition rate. Owing to the long driving wavelength and the use of a gas-jet in the THz generation focus, the highest reported conversion efficiency for high-power THz sources (>20 mW) of 0.32% has been achieved. The high efficiency and average power of 380 mW of the broadband THz radiation make this an ideal source for nonlinear, tabletop THz science.