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Numerical studies on terahertz radiation generated from two-color laser pulse interaction with gas targets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2011

H.W. Du ,
M. Chen ,
Z.M. Sheng  and
J. Zhang
H.W. Du
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and Department of Physics, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China
M. Chen
Affiliation:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California
Z.M. Sheng*
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and Department of Physics, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China Beijing National Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, CAS, Beijing, China Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
J. Zhang
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and Department of Physics, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China Beijing National Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, CAS, Beijing, China
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Z. M. Sheng, Department of Physics, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai 200240, China. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Based upon the Ammosov-Delone-Krainov ionization model, it is shown that two-color laser interaction with neutral gas generates strong ionization currents, which lead to electromagnetic emission at terahertz frequency when the gas density is at proper values. The emission efficiency depends on the difference of the phases between the fundamental and its second harmonic. The intensity ratio between the two pulses also affects the emission strength. An optimum intensity ratio has been found within our parameter region. The above ionization current theory is in agreement with one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations with field ionization included.

Keywords

Ionization currentParticle-in-cell simulationTerahertz-wave emission
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 447 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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