Manipulation of terahertz waveforms in nonlinear optical crystals by shaped optical pulses

Abstract

We manipulate terahertz (THz) waveforms by optical rectification in nonlinear optical crystals using a pair of temporally separated femtosecond pulses. Two single-cycle THz pulses coherently control rotational transitions in gas-phase HCl molecules. Continuously tunable narrowband THz pulses are generated in a fanned-out, periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. The shape of the multicycle THz pulses is controlled by adjusting the relative time delay and intensity between the two optical pulses.