Directional THz generation in hot Rb vapor excited to a Rydberg state
Abstract
We optically excite 85 R b atoms in a heated vapor cell to a low-lying Rydberg state 10 D 5 / 2 and observe directional terahertz (THz) beams at 3.3 THz and 7.8 THz. These THz fields are generated by amplified spontaneous emission from the 10 D 5 / 2 state to the 11 P 3 / 2 and 8 F 7 / 2 states, respectively. In addition, we observe ultraviolet (UV) light produced by four-wave mixing of optical pump lasers and the 3.3 THz field. We characterize the generated THz power over the detuning and power of pump lasers, and identify experimental conditions favoring THz and UV generation, respectively. Our scheme paves a new pathway towards generating high-power narrowband THz radiation.
- Publication:
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Optics Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 2021
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2021OptL...46.1017L