Relativistic terahertz laser pulse from photon deceleration in a plasma wakefield

doi:10.1088/1674-1056/adbf82

中国物理B ›› 2025, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6): 63201-063201.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/adbf82

所属专题： SPECIAL TOPIC — Ultrafast physics in atomic, molecular and optical systems

Relativistic terahertz laser pulse from photon deceleration in a plasma wakefield

Jie Cai(蔡杰)^1,2, Minjian Wu(吴旻剑)¹, Yixing Geng(耿易星)¹, Huangang Lu(卢寰港)¹, Han Wen(温寒)², Liqi Han(韩立琦)², Yanying Zhao(赵研英)^1,†, Jinqing Yu(余金清)², and Xueqing Yan(颜学庆)¹

1 State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
2 Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of High-Energy Scale Physics and Applications School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China

收稿日期:2025-01-11 修回日期:2025-03-10 接受日期:2025-03-12 出版日期:2025-05-16 发布日期:2025-05-30
通讯作者: Yanying Zhao E-mail:zhaoyanying@pku.edu.cn
基金资助:
Project supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2024T170021), the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park (Grant No. Z231100006023003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12175058, 12205007, and 11921006), and the National Science Fund of Hunan Province for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 2024JJ2009).

Relativistic terahertz laser pulse from photon deceleration in a plasma wakefield

1 State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
2 Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of High-Energy Scale Physics and Applications School of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China

Received:2025-01-11 Revised:2025-03-10 Accepted:2025-03-12 Online:2025-05-16 Published:2025-05-30
Contact: Yanying Zhao E-mail:zhaoyanying@pku.edu.cn
Supported by:
Project supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2024T170021), the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park (Grant No. Z231100006023003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12175058, 12205007, and 11921006), and the National Science Fund of Hunan Province for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 2024JJ2009).

摘要/Abstract

摘要： Terahertz (THz) radiation, spanning the frequency range 100 GHz to 10 THz, offers diverse applications in spectroscopy, materials characterization, medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Despite its potential, the generation of high-intensity, tunable THz radiation remains a significant challenge. In this work, we explore a novel approach to the efficient generation of THz radiation based on laser-plasma interactions, utilizing the principles of photon deceleration. When a relativistic CO₂ laser passes through a pre-ionized plasma, the laser induces a nonlinear wakefield, creating a strong refractive index gradient. This gradient, combined with the lower-density region of the wakefield, slows down the laser, facilitating the accumulation of THz radiation. The resulting THz pulse exhibits extreme collimation, high energy efficiency and tunability. Our work shows that this method can achieve up to 10% conversion efficiency with optimal plasma density near the critical density. This technique presents a promising solution for overcoming current limitations in THz source development and offers potential for diverse applications.

关键词: terahertz radiation, photon deceleration, extreme power, laser plasma

Abstract: Terahertz (THz) radiation, spanning the frequency range 100 GHz to 10 THz, offers diverse applications in spectroscopy, materials characterization, medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Despite its potential, the generation of high-intensity, tunable THz radiation remains a significant challenge. In this work, we explore a novel approach to the efficient generation of THz radiation based on laser-plasma interactions, utilizing the principles of photon deceleration. When a relativistic CO₂ laser passes through a pre-ionized plasma, the laser induces a nonlinear wakefield, creating a strong refractive index gradient. This gradient, combined with the lower-density region of the wakefield, slows down the laser, facilitating the accumulation of THz radiation. The resulting THz pulse exhibits extreme collimation, high energy efficiency and tunability. Our work shows that this method can achieve up to 10% conversion efficiency with optimal plasma density near the critical density. This technique presents a promising solution for overcoming current limitations in THz source development and offers potential for diverse applications.

Key words: terahertz radiation, photon deceleration, extreme power, laser plasma

中图分类号: (Radio-frequency, microwave, and infrared spectra)

32.30.Bv

52.38.-r (Laser-plasma interactions) 42.62.-b (Laser applications)

Jie Cai(蔡杰), Minjian Wu(吴旻剑), Yixing Geng(耿易星), Huangang Lu(卢寰港), Han Wen(温寒), Liqi Han(韩立琦), Yanying Zhao(赵研英), Jinqing Yu(余金清), and Xueqing Yan(颜学庆). Relativistic terahertz laser pulse from photon deceleration in a plasma wakefield[J]. 中国物理B, 2025, 34(6): 63201-063201.

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Relativistic terahertz laser pulse from photon deceleration in a plasma wakefield

Relativistic terahertz laser pulse from photon deceleration in a plasma wakefield

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