Full mathematical description of electro-optic detection in optically isotropic crystals

Abstract

We present a set of equations describing the electro-optic detection of terahertz electric fields that is easy to use and that is applicable to all optically isotropic detection crystals. This set of equations can be used for every possible propagation and polarization direction of the probe beam and for arbitrary direction of the terahertz electric field. Due to its wide applicability, our results are very suitable to describe complex detection geometries, as are, for instance, found in terahertz microscopy. Our results are in excellent agreement with previously published experimental results.