BNA as a broadband THz emitter

ORAL

Abstract

Terahertz spectroscopy is an emerging field with varied applications, such as imaging of biological samples, probing vibrational modes in crystals, studying interfaces, and identification of a large number of materials. These applications are limited by the THz source: the smaller the frequency range produced, the fewer observables. BNA is an organic nonlinear optical crystal which produces a broadband spectrum from 0.5--6 THz when pumped with a 100-femtosecond laser with a central wavelength of 1200 nm. We have found that pumping very thin (\textgreater 300 microns) BNA crystals with an 800-nm laser also produces a broadband spectrum in the THz region. We analyze the difference between a 1200-nm and 800-nm pump and find the optimal length for BNA when using each pump. Finally, we demonstrate the use of BNA to determine the refractive index of lithium niobate using THz time-domain spectroscopy and compare our results with the use of DAST, a common organic crystal used for THz generation. Because of the broadband nature of BNA as a THz emitter, BNA is better suited for studying materials from 0--6~THz than other crystals commonly in use.

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Authors

  • Isaac Tangen

    Brigham Young University - Provo

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago