10 aJ-level sensing of nanosecond pulse below 10 THz by frequency upconversion detection via DAST crystal: more than a 4 K bolometer

Abstract

By using frequency upconversion detection of terahertz (THz) waves via 4-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate (DAST) crystal with an optimized frequency conversion process, ultrahigh sensitivity has been achieved. Direct comparisons with a 4 K bolometer were implemented. By using a simple positive intrinsic negative (PIN) diode without either electrical amplification or optical amplification, frequency upconversion detection can compete with the commercial 4 K bolometer, while by replacing the PIN diode with an avalanche photo diode (APD), it performs more than three orders better than the 4 K bolometer. Based on power calibration, the minimum detectable THz pulse energy is in the order of 10 aJ (9–25 aJ) at 4.3 THz, with a pulse duration of 6 ns. Thus, the minimum number of THz photons that can be detected is down to the order of ${10}^3$ at room temperature. The current THz detection system gives a noise equivalent power (NEP) in the order of $100\mathrm{fW}/{\mathrm{Hz}}^{1/2}$ ($50–128\mathrm{fW}/{\mathrm{Hz}}^{1/2}$). Moreover, by switching current optical detectors, the dynamic range is over six orders.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

Efficient terahertz detection in a sheet cavity using a nonlinear optical parametric process

Kyosuke Saito, Tadao Tanabe, and Yutaka Oyama
Appl. Opt. 54(17) 5475-5480 (2015)

Terahertz-wave detection in a GaP-based hybrid waveguide using a nonlinear optical parametric process

Kyosuke Saito, Tadao Tanabe, and Yutaka Oyama
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 32(4) 708-713 (2015)

Diffraction-limited real-time terahertz imaging by optical frequency up-conversion in a DAST crystal

Shuzhen Fan, Feng Qi, Takashi Notake, Kouji Nawata, Yuma Takida, Takeshi Matsukawa, and Hiroaki Minamide
Opt. Express 23(6) 7611-7618 (2015)

Tunable narrow band difference frequency THz wave generation in DAST via dual seed PPLN OPG

Brian Dolasinski, Peter E. Powers, Joseph W. Haus, and Adam Cooney
Opt. Express 23(3) 3669-3680 (2015)

Terahertz generation with tandem seeded optical parametric generators

P. E. Powers, R. A. Alkuwari, J. W. Haus, K. Suizu, and H. Ito
Opt. Lett. 30(6) 640-642 (2005)