Design, fabrication, and characterization of novel waveguide structures for high-power and compact THz sources based on a novel concept

In this Phase II proposal from the ArkLight/Lehigh team, we propose to investigate variety of semiconductor and polymeric electro-optic crystals and materials with one of our goals for scaling up the output powers of the THz sources. We are going to explore a class of the novel THz components combined with many novel configurations with one of our objectives for further increasing the output powers of the THz sources, from simple slab waveguides to photonic crystals. We will also study the possibility of implementing the single-element chemical sensor and multiple-element chemical sensor array. Specifically, we will reduce the linewidth reduction of 532-nm pump laser down to 0.000024 wave number. We plan to implement a narrow-linewidth optical-parametric oscillator for producing the signal and idler waves necessary for efficient THz generation. We will achieve the state-of-art performance for a coherent THz source based on frequency mixing in an optimized GaP crystal. We plan to design and to implement a THz frequency upconverter based on a GaP crystal. We are going to integrate a THz source with a detection system and then to perform system testing. We will design, fabricate, and test variety of different waveguides for enhancing the normalized conversion efficiencies from optical pulses to the THz output. We plan to design, to fabricate, and to test a THz generator and frequency upconverter based on waveguides. We are going to deign, fabricate, and test Bragg reflectors, filters, and beamsplitters working in the THz region. We will investigate the potential of THz photonic crystal devices. We will design, fabricate, and test attenuated reflection device. We will optimize the waveguide for further enhancing the conversion efficiencies. We will implement high-Q cavity for multiple passes. We will design, fabricate, and test different configurations for compact sources and frequency upconverters. We will design and simulate single-element chemical sensor. We will also deign and simulate multiple-element chemical sensor array.