Extreme THz Science with Ultra-Intense Laser Induced Plasma

超强激光诱导等离子体的极限太赫兹科学

• 批准号: 2152081
• 负责人: Xi-Cheng Zhang
• 金额: $ 49.9万
• 依托单位: University of Rochester
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-06-01 至 2025-05-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2152081&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Extreme; THz; Science; Ultra; Intense

The region of THz frequency band (0.3 – 10 THz) has long been considered the last remaining scientific gap in the electromagnetic spectrum. This field shows great promise for a variety of reasons including small-scale electron accelerators, contact-less probes, high-field nonlinear optics, and broadband material characterization. Since the use of short-pulse laser excitation on the photoconductors and the electro-optic crystals in late 1980s’, the research of THz science and technology has been limited to the marginal power level of available lasers with nano-Joule to mJ laser pulse energy. The project is basic scientific exploration, applied device innovation, and a pilot test for the extreme THz science with ultra-intense laser pulses. Greater than kJ laser pulse energy with less than 1 ps laser pulse duration for the THz science is not available anywhere in the world. PI’s preliminary experiment in the Laboratory for Laser Energetics used a multi-terawatt laser (10 J pulse energy and 1 ps pulse duration) and the Omega-EP laser (200 J pulse energy and sub-ps pulse duration) to create micro-plasma and measured THz wave generation under different laser condition during the pilot test. PI will investigate extreme THz science with THz wave generation and detection by using unique lasers (from J to kJ pulse energy). The proposed ultra-intense THz source will open the doors for a large variety of light-matter interaction applications.PI proposes to explore extreme THz wave science with the application of the most intense lasers ( kJ pulse energy and ps pulse duration) originally constructed for laser fusion at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Univ. of Rochester. The goal is to achieve the most intense THz sources in the world, and study nonlinear sciences with single cycle THz pulses. Single-shot spatiotemporal THz emission measurement would be the first critical development for the ultra-intense THz photonics. Proposed tasks including study of THz wave generation from different target materials (including elements with different atomic numbers as well as organic materials), pulsed laser parameters (pulse duration, laser wavelength, optical polarization, and power density), and spectral/temporally resolved measurement. The development of a single-shot THz characterization technology is imperative for the ultra-intense lasers (waiting time between the laser shot is often at 40 minutes or longer), which will also be demonstrated in our lab. Our development of the THz photonics project enables interdisciplinary research and advances numerous THz wave sensing and spectroscopy developments. If this is successful, this high-risk study may lead to new understanding, inventions, and processes with broad scientific impact. As the pursuit of progress in THz science involves extensive interdisciplinary research, this project will continue to provide excellent collaborative opportunities in the promotion of teaching, training, and learning among students with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and within underrepresented groups. The research team will have one PhD student from an underrepresented minority group.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

THz频段（0.3 - 10 THz）一直被认为是电磁频谱中最后一个科学空白。这一领域显示出巨大的前景，包括小规模的电子加速器，非接触式探头，高场非线性光学，宽带材料表征的各种原因。自从20世纪80年代末在光电导体和电光晶体上使用短脉冲激光激发以来，太赫兹科学和技术的研究一直局限于可用激光器的边缘功率水平，其激光脉冲能量从纳焦耳到毫焦耳不等。该项目是基础科学探索，应用设备创新，以及使用超强激光脉冲的极端THz科学的试点测试。世界上任何地方都没有用于太赫兹科学的大于kJ的激光脉冲能量和小于1 ps的激光脉冲持续时间。PI在激光能量学实验室的初步实验使用了多太瓦激光器（10 J脉冲能量和1 ps脉冲持续时间）和Omega-EP激光器（200 J脉冲能量和sub-ps脉冲持续时间）来创建微等离子体，并在中试测试期间测量了不同激光条件下的THz波产生。PI将通过使用独特的激光器（从J到kJ脉冲能量）研究THz波产生和检测的极端THz科学。拟议中的超强太赫兹源将打开大门，为各种各样的光-物质相互作用的应用。PI建议探索极端太赫兹波科学与最强的激光（kJ脉冲能量和ps脉冲持续时间）的应用，最初建造的激光聚变实验室，罗切斯特大学。目标是获得世界上最强的THz源，并利用单周期THz脉冲研究非线性科学。单次时空太赫兹辐射测量将是超强太赫兹光子学的第一个关键发展。提出的任务包括研究从不同的目标材料（包括具有不同原子序数的元素以及有机材料）产生太赫兹波，脉冲激光参数（脉冲持续时间，激光波长，光学偏振和功率密度），和光谱/时间分辨测量。单次太赫兹表征技术的开发对于超强激光（激光发射之间的等待时间通常为40分钟或更长）至关重要，这也将在我们的实验室中进行演示。我们对太赫兹光子学项目的开发使跨学科研究成为可能，并推动了许多太赫兹波传感和光谱学的发展。如果成功，这项高风险研究可能会带来新的理解、发明和具有广泛科学影响的过程。由于追求太赫兹科学的进步涉及广泛的跨学科研究，该项目将继续为促进具有不同社会经济背景的学生和代表性不足的群体的教学，培训和学习提供良好的合作机会。该研究团队将有一名来自代表性不足的少数群体的博士生。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Joule-class THz pulses from microchannel targets

• DOI: 10.1364/ol.518981
• 发表时间: 2024-04-01
• 期刊: OPTICS LETTERS
• 影响因子: 3.6
• 作者: Bruhaug，G.;Rinderknecht，H. G.;Rygg，J. R.
• 通讯作者: Rygg，J. R.