NEAR-INFRARED PULSED LIGHT SOURCE AND TERAHERTZ WAVE GENERATION DEVICE

Disclosed is a near-infrared pulsed light source including: a first near-infrared light source to emit near-infrared laser light which is a continuous wave of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm; and a pulse modulator to modulate the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source with pulses, and to emit, as first near-infrared light, near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is less than or equal to one nanosecond, and whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to a value which is a result of adding 10 dB to a pulse duty ratio (dB) which is a ratio of a pulse width of each of the pulses and a period of the pulses.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a terahertz wave generation device that generates a terahertz wave using an injection seeded terahertz-wave parametric generation (abbreviated as is-TPG hereinafter) method using a nonlinear optical crystal which can generate a terahertz wave by means of an optical parametric effect, and a near-infrared pulsed light source used for the terahertz wave generation device using the is-TPG method.

BACKGROUND ART

Terahertz waves are electromagnetic waves whose wavelengths are in a range from 30 μm to 300 μm, and whose frequencies exceed 1 THz.

Terahertz waves are electromagnetic waves rich in diversity, the electromagnetic waves having “degree of transparency” like that of electric waves, and “straightness” like that of laser beams, and their applicability have been expanding in various fields including a basic science field, an engineering field, and a medical biotechnology field.

A terahertz wave generation device using the is-TPG method is proposed in Patent Literature 1 as a terahertz wave generation device.

The terahertz wave generation device using the is-TPG method, which is shown in Patent Literature 1, includes a pump light generation system, a pump light guide system, a pump light amplification system, a seed light generation system, and a terahertz wave generation system.

A pump light source which constitutes the pump light generation system is a passively Q-switched microchip laser which outputs pump light whose repetition frequency is 100 kHz, whose center wavelength is 1,064 nm, and whose pulse width is 140 ps.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2019-35789 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Although in the terahertz wave generation device shown in Patent Literature 1 the average pump power density of the pump light from the pump light source is set to be less than or equal to a predetermined photorefractive effect occurrence threshold in order to avoid optical damage to the nonlinear optical crystal, the suppression of the photorefractive effect is still insufficient because the microchip laser which outputs pump light whose center wavelength is 1,064 nm is used as the pump light source.

Further, it is difficult to manufacture the microchip laser which outputs pump light whose pulse width is 140 ps.

The present disclosure is made in view of the above-mentioned point, and it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a near-infrared pulsed light source which is easily manufactured, and which can suppress the photorefractive effect and can also suppress a nonlinear phenomenon referred to as stimulated Brillouin scattering, in the case where it is applied to a terahertz wave generation device using the is-TPG method.

Solution to Problem

A near-infrared pulsed light source according to the present disclosure is a near-infrared pulse light source applied to a terahertz wave generation device based on a light injection terahertz-wave parametric generation method, the near-infrared pulsed light source includes: a first near-infrared light source to emit near-infrared laser light which is a continuous wave of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm; and a pulse modulator to modulate the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source with pulses, and to emit, as first near-infrared light, near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is less than or equal to one nanosecond, and whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to a value which is a result of adding 10 dB to a pulse duty ratio (dB) which is a ratio of a pulse width of each of the pulses and a period of the pulses.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure, the near-infrared pulsed light source applied to the terahertz wave generation device using the is-TPG method can suppress stimulated Brillouin scattering while suppressing the photorefractive effect on the nonlinear optical crystal, and can acquire near-infrared pulsed light.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1 will be explained on the basis ofFIGS.1to5.

The terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1 generates a terahertz wave using the is-TPG method which uses a nonlinear optical crystal capable of generating a terahertz wave by means of an optical parametric effect.

The is-TPG method is the one of, in order to acquire a terahertz wave of a single frequency, causing second laser light of angular frequency ω2 which satisfies the following equation (1), wherein the angular frequency of the terahertz wave to be acquired is denoted by ωT and the angular frequency of first laser pulsed light is denoted by ω1, to be incident on a nonlinear optical crystal, thereby concentrating the energy of occurrence of parametric onto the terahertz wave of the single angular frequency ωT, to prevent terahertz waves of other angular frequencies from coming out.

The single frequency refers to a state in which a single peak appears in the spectrum and coherence is maintained in the peak.

Further, the above equation (1) shows the law of energy conservation in which one photon of the angular frequency ω1 yields one photon of the angular frequency ω2 and one photon of the angular frequency ωT.

When laser light of the angular frequency ω1 and laser light of the angular frequency ω2 are incident on a nonlinear optical crystal, the power of the laser light of the angular frequency ω1 decreases and the power of the laser light of the angular frequency ω2 is amplified.

In addition, the angular frequency ωT which is equal to the frequency (ω1-ω2) is acquired, and the decreased power of the laser light of the angular frequency ω1 is balanced by the increase in the power of the laser light of the angular frequency ω2 and the power of the newly generated terahertz wave of the angular frequency ωT if there are no absorption and no scattering.

When the above equation (1) is satisfied, the following equation (2) is also satisfied simultaneously in terms of vectors.

In the following equation (2), k1 denotes the wave number vector of the first laser pulsed light, k2 denotes the wave number vector of the second light, and kT denotes the wave number vector of the terahertz wave.

The direction of a wave number vector is determined by the propagating direction of the light, and the length of the vector is determined by the angular frequency and the refractive index. The refractive index varies depending on the wavelength of the light and the frequency of the terahertz wave. Further, in an anisotropic crystal, its refractive index varies depending on the propagation angles of the light and the terahertz wave with respect to the crystal orientation.

Each propagation angles of the light and the terahertz wave which simultaneously satisfy the above equations (1) and (2) are referred to as a phase matching angle.

In addition, in the is-TPG method, a pulse having intensity with which the pulse can generate a terahertz wave by itself may be used as the first laser pulsed light, and the second light may be a continuous wave (CW). Further, because the first laser pulsed light has high intensity, there occurs TPG having multiple stages in which the second light is also amplified to high intensity while a terahertz wave is generated, and the second light causes a terahertz wave and third light to occur. When the angular frequency of the third light is denoted by ω3, there is a frequency relation which satisfies the following equation (3).

Because of TPG having such multiple stages as above, the is-TPG method can provide a terahertz wave having higher intensity with a high degree of efficiency.

More specifically, when TPG having multiple stages occurs, efficiency exceeding that given by the Manley-Rowe relations is acquired because multiple photons of a terahertz wave of the angular frequency ωT are acquired from one photon of the first laser pulse of the angular frequency ω1.

To sum up, the intensity of the first laser pulse of the angular frequency ω1 and the intensity of the terahertz wave of the angular frequency ωT exceed those given by the Manley-Rowe relations.

The Manley-Rowe relations relate to an upper limit of the efficiency in wavelength conversion, the upper limit being derived from the conservation law of photon energy, and, generally, the energy of a terahertz wave acquired is at most ωT/ω1 of the energy of the first laser pulse.

The terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1 uses the principle of the generation of a terahertz wave, the principle being based on the above-mentioned is-TPG method, and includes a first near-infrared laser light system10, a second near-infrared laser light system20, and a terahertz wave generation system30, as shown inFIG.1.

The first near-infrared laser light system10includes a near-infrared pulsed light source10A and a first incidence optical system16.

The near-infrared pulsed light source10A includes a first near-infrared light source11, a first intensity modulator12and a second intensity modulator13which constitute a pulse modulator, a first amplifier14, and a timing control device15.

The second near-infrared laser light system20includes a second near-infrared light source21and a second amplifier22which constitute a laser light source, and a second incidence optical system23.

The terahertz wave generation system30includes a nonlinear optical crystal31and a terahertz wave extraction element32.

The first near-infrared light source11, the first intensity modulator12, the second intensity modulator13, and the first amplifier14, which are included in the near-infrared pulsed light source10A, are optically connected using optical fibers or the likes.

The second near-infrared light source21and the second amplifier22which constitute the laser light source of the second near-infrared laser light system20are optically connected using an optical fiber or the like.

The first near-infrared laser light system10performs pulse modulation on near-infrared laser light of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm, to output, as first near-infrared light, near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is less than or equal to one nanosecond (ns), and whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to the value which is the result of adding 10 dB to the pulse duty ratio (dB) (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)) to the nonlinear optical crystal31in the terahertz wave generation system30.

The pulse duty ratio (dB) mentioned above is the ratio (dB) of the pulse width and the pulse period of the near-infrared pulsed light emitted from the first near-infrared laser light system10, and is expressed as the ratio of light intensity (power ratio).

Further, the first near-infrared light which is emitted from the first near-infrared laser light system10to the nonlinear optical crystal31has the intensity in which the average pump power density exceeds the photorefractive effect occurrence threshold 52 kW/cm2.

The first near-infrared laser light system10is a so-called pump light generation system.

The near-infrared pulsed light source10A generates the first near-infrared light.

The first near-infrared light source11is a near-infrared laser that emits near-infrared laser light which is a continuous wave of a single frequency whose wavelength is longer than 1,240 nm.

In Embodiment 1, a laser diode that emits near-infrared laser light which is a continuous wave (CW) whose wavelength is 1.5 μm is used as the first near-infrared light source11.

A laser diode in which the wavelength is within the 1.5 μm band is often used for communications, and it is easy to acquire the optical component.

The wavelength of the near-infrared light emitted is not limited to within the 1.5 μm band, and should just be longer than 1,240 nm.

Further, the near-infrared light emitted from the first near-infrared light source11is not necessarily a continuous wave, and may be near-infrared laser light which is a quasi continuous wave (quasi-cw). By causing the first near-infrared light source11to perform a quasi-continuous-wave (quasi-cw which is abbreviated as QCW hereinafter) operation, reduction of the electric power consumption and an improvement in the peak power in the first near-infrared light source11can be achieved.

In the case where the first near-infrared light source11is caused to perform a QCW operation, control is performed by the timing control device15.

In the present disclosure, a continuous wave includes a quasi continuous wave.

By configuring the first near-infrared light source11to emit near-infrared laser light of a single frequency whose wavelength is longer than 1,240 nm, the photorefractive effect in the nonlinear optical crystal31can be suppressed because the near-infrared laser light emitted has photon energy smaller than 1.0 eV.

The photorefractive effect in the nonlinear optical crystal31can be suppressed for the following reason:

More specifically, a carrier, such as an electron, is excited inside the nonlinear optical crystal31because of the interaction with the light, and a movement of the carrier causes a change in the refractive index. Such a change in the refractive index caused by the light is the photorefractive effect.

The occurrence of a change in the refractive index inside the nonlinear optical crystal31causes a shift in the phase matching of the incident near-infrared light, and the incident near-infrared light beam becomes distorted because of a refractive index distribution, so that the nonlinear phenomenon including the generation of a terahertz wave is obstructed.

In the case where lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is used as the nonlinear optical crystal31, no absorption of the near-infrared light occurs and no carrier is generated under normal conditions because the band gap of the lithium niobate is 3.8 eV.

However, when near-infrared light which is pulsed light is incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31in order to provide a terahertz wave, the generation of a carrier due to multiphoton absorption occurs.

Further, because there is an energy level originating in impurity or defect in the nonlinear optical crystal31, the characteristics of the photorefractive effect are determined by such an intermediate level.

Although the mechanism of the photorefractive effect is not elucidated completely, it is said that quasi-particles caused by defects, which are called bipolarons, absorb light, and a carrier generated by this absorption causes the photorefractive effect, as shown in, for example, reference literature: M. Imlau et al. “Optical nonlinearities of small polarons in lithium niobate,” Applied Physics Review Vol. 2, p. 040606 (2015), particularly inFIG.5and the description related to the figure.

As mentioned in the reference literature, in the case of lithium niobate, those bipolarons have an absorption peaked 2.5 eV, and the absorption extends up to about Therefore, when the laser light has photon energy smaller than 1.0 eV, the photorefractive effect can be significantly suppressed. 1.0 eV.

In Embodiment 1, because the wavelength of light having the photon energy of 1.0 eV is approximately 1,240 nm, the near-infrared laser light emitted from the first near-infrared light source11is set to have a wavelength longer than 1,240 nm.

As a result, the photorefractive effect in the nonlinear optical crystal31can be suppressed.

The pulse modulator constituted by the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13performs intensity modulation on the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11, to generate pulsed near-infrared laser light.

The pulse modulator modulates the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11with pulses, to emit, as the first near-infrared light, near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is less than or equal to one nanosecond, and whose extinction ratio is greater than the pulse duty ratio which is the ratio of the pulse width and the pulse period.

Because the pulse modulator emits the near-infrared pulsed light whose extinction ratio in the pulse modulation is greater than the pulse duty ratio, the power of the pulse portion contained in the total power of the near-infrared pulsed light is large.

Concretely, the pulse modulator modulates the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11, to emit near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is less than or equal to Ins and whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to the value which is the result of adding 10 dB to the pulse duty ratio (dB) (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)), e.g. near-infrared pulsed light whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to 60 dB in this Embodiment 1.

For example, when the near-infrared pulsed light has a pulse width of 0.5 ns and a repetition frequency of 20 kHz (the pulse period is 50 μs), the pulse duty ratio (dB) is the pulse width:the pulse period=0.5 ns:50 μs=5×10−10:5×10−5, that is, 50 dB.

To sum up, the pulse modulator performs pulse modulation on the envelope of an electromagnetic wave that vibrates at the frequency corresponding to the wavelength of the light with a pulse width of Ins or less, and emits modulated pulsed light whose extinction ratio in the pulse modulation is either equal to the value which is the result of adding 10 dB to the duty ratio which is the ratio of the pulse width and the repetition frequency, or greater than or equal to the value which is the result of adding 10 dB to the duty ratio which is the ratio of the pulse width and the repetition frequency.

By setting the extinction ratio of the near-infrared pulsed light to either the value which is the result of adding 10 dB to the pulse duty ratio (dB) or the value which is the result of adding 10 dB to the pulse duty ratio (dB), or more, the major portion of the total light power of the near-infrared pulsed light, e.g. 76% or more of the power in the example of Embodiment 1 is concentrated onto the pulse portion having a pulse width of Ins or less.

The first intensity modulator12is a high-speed amplitude modulator which allows the near-infrared laser light to pass therethrough with a set transmittance within each time period of Ins or less, 0.5 ns in Embodiment 1, and which prevents the near-infrared laser light from passing therethrough within each time period other than the time periods of generated pulses, thereby forming pulses, to emit near-infrared pulsed light of a high-speed repetition frequency which is acquired as a result of performing pulse modulation on the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11with pulses having a pulse width of Ins or less, as shown inFIG.2A.

The first intensity modulator12is an electrooptic modulator (EO modulator) which uses the electro-optic effect (EO effect) of a lithium niobate waveguide.

By using an EO modulator as the first intensity modulator12, near-infrared pulsed light having a repetition frequency on which the pulse modulation is performed with pulses having a pulse width of Ins or less is acquired. There is a lithium niobate (LN) modulator as the EO modulator.

Because the first intensity modulator12emits near-infrared pulsed light having a repetition frequency which is acquired as a result of performing the pulse modulation on the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11so that its pulse width becomes equal to or less than Ins, the near-infrared pulsed light has a pulse width shorter than the speed of response of the stimulated Brillouin scattering in the nonlinear optical crystal31.

As a result, even though the first near-infrared light which is the near-infrared pulsed light having high peak power is emitted toward the nonlinear optical crystal31from the first near-infrared laser light system10, the stimulated Brillouin scattering in the nonlinear optical crystal31can be suppressed.

However, because in the case where an EO modulator is used as the first intensity modulator12, the rejection of the light at the time of off is not sufficient, the extinction ratio is greater than or equal to 20 dB, but remains in a range from 20 dB to 40 dB.

The extinction ratio refers to the ratio (power ratio) of the light intensity in an on state (on time) in which a pulse is generated and the light intensity in an off state (off time) in which no pulse is generated.

Assuming that the EO modulator which is the first intensity modulator12emits near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is 0.5 ns (500 ps) and whose repetition frequency is 20 kHz, the interval between pulses, i.e., the pulse period is 50 μs, and hence the pulse duty ratio which is the ratio of the on-time and the total time of the EO modulator is 50 dB (the pulse width:the pulse period=0.5 ns:50 μs=5×10−10: 5×10−5, that is, 50 dB).

Therefore, even though the extinction ratio of the EO modulator is 40 dB, the energy contained in the output of the EO modulator within the off time is 10 dB higher compared to that within the on time because the off time of the near-infrared pulsed light emitted from the EO modulator which is the first intensity modulator12is 50 dB longer compared to the on time.

As a result, the power of the near-infrared pulsed light from the EO modulator is only 10% of the power of the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11, and it is inefficient to cause the nonlinear optical crystal31to generate a terahertz wave.

In order to improve the extinction ratio of the first near-infrared light incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31, the second intensity modulator13is provided as the pulse modulator.

The second intensity modulator13performs modulation on the near-infrared laser light with an extinction ratio greater than or equal to 40 dB.

The second intensity modulator13is a high-extinction-ratio amplitude modulator which allows the near-infrared laser light to pass therethrough with a set transmittance within each time period of 10 ns, and which prevents the near-infrared laser light from passing therethrough within each time period other than the time periods of generated pulses, thereby forming pulses, and which performs intensity modulation on the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12with an extinction ratio greater than or equal to 40 dB, as shown inFIG.2B.

As a result, from the pulse modulator constituted by the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13is emitted the near-infrared pulsed light on which the pulse modulation is performed, the near-infrared pulsed light having an extinction ratio greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)), e.g. 60 dB in Embodiment 1, within a time period of 10 ns, and having an extinction ratio greater than or equal to 20 dB within a time period of Ins or less of the time period of 10 ns, e.g. within a time period of 0.5 ns in Embodiment 1, as shown inFIG.2C.

More specifically, from the pulse modulator is emitted the near-infrared pulsed light, as the first near-infrared light, which is acquired as a result of performing the pulse modulation on the near-infrared laser light, which is a continuous wave, from the first near-infrared light source11, and which consists of a high-speed repetition frequency, the emitted near-infrared pulsed light having a pulse width of 0.5 ns which is less than or equal to Ins, and an extinction ratio of 60 dB which is greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)).

The second intensity modulator13is an acousto-optic modulator (AO modulator). Although the AO modulators do not have a speed of response which is high enough to be able to generate pulsed light of Ins or less, the AO modulators can modulate near-infrared laser light with a high extinction ratio greater than or equal to 40 dB.

The second intensity modulator13is not limited to an AO modulator, and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) which has a property of performing amplification within the on time and absorbing light within the off time, i.e. which can also be used as a high-extinction-ratio intensity modulator may be used as the second intensity modulator13.

By thus configuring the pulse modulator using a combination of the first intensity modulator12which is a high-speed amplitude modulator, and the second intensity modulator13which is a high-extinction-ratio amplitude modulator, the pulse modulation with Ins or less is performed by the first intensity modulator12and the extinction ratio is further improved by 40 dB or more by the second intensity modulator13, so that the near-infrared pulsed light in which both a pulse width of Ins or less and an extinction ratio greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)) can be implemented simultaneously is acquired.

As a result, onto the pulse portion of the near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator constituted by the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13is concentrated the major portion of the total energy.

For example, assuming that the near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is 0.5 ns and whose repetition frequency is 20 kHz is emitted from the pulse modulator, and that the peak is 1 W, 500 pJ×20 KHz=10 μW is provided because the energy of the pulse portion is 500 pJ and the repetition frequency is 20 KHz.

In a region of 10 ns around each pulse, because the second intensity modulator13is in the on state and the first intensity modulator12is in the off state, the peak drops by 20 dB or more and 10 mW×10 ns=100 pJ is provided, and 100 pJ×20 KHz=2 μW is provided because the repetition frequency is 20 kHz.

In any region other than the region of 10 ns around each pulse, a 60 dB drop occurs and 1 μW is provided.

Therefore, because the power of the pulse portion used for the terahertz generation, out of the total energy of 13 μW (=10+2+1), is 10 μW, the concentration on the energy of the pulse portion is 76.7% of the total energy (=(10/13)×100), and 76% or more of the total energy of the near-infrared pulsed light can be concentrated onto the pulse portion of the near-infrared pulsed light.

Although the connection in order from the first intensity modulator12which is a high-speed amplitude modulator to the second intensity modulator13which is a high-extinction-ratio modulator is established in Embodiment 1, the order may be reverse in such a way that a connection in order from the second intensity modulator13to the first intensity modulator12is established.

The first amplifier14amplifies the first near-infrared light which is the near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator constituted by the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13.

The first amplifier14is constituted by either a fiber amplifier or a combination of a fiber amplifier and an amplifier in free space.

In the case where a combination of a fiber amplifier and an amplifier in free space is used as the first amplifier14, a nonlinear effect which is easy for short pulses to receive, such as Raman scattering or self-phase modulation, can be avoided.

The first amplifier14is be limited to the single stage, and may be multiple stages.

Further, in order to provide an improvement in the energy efficiency or suppress noises caused by spontaneous emission, the first amplifier14may be one in which QCW pumping is performed under the control of the timing control device15.

The timing control device15controls the timing of the on time of each of the following modulators: the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13in such a way that the on time of the second intensity modulator13coincides with the on time of the first intensity modulator12.

More specifically, the timing control device15controls both the emission timing of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12and the emission timing of the near-infrared pulsed light from the second intensity modulator13in such a way that each pulse emitted from the first intensity modulator12is positioned at the center of the pulse width of a pulse emitted from the second intensity modulator13, as shown inFIG.2C.

The position of each pulse emitted from the first intensity modulator12is not limited to the center of the pulse width of a pulse emitted from the second intensity modulator13, and may deviate from the center as long as it is within the pulse width of a pulse emitted from the second intensity modulator13.

The timing control device15is constituted by a microcomputer or the like.

In the case where the first near-infrared light source11is made to perform a QCW operation, the timing control device15performs control of matching the emission timing of the near-infrared laser light of QCW from the first near-infrared light source11with the emission timing of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13on the first near-infrared light source11.

In this way, the near-infrared pulsed light source10A which is constituted by the first near-infrared light source11, the first intensity modulator12, the second intensity modulator13, the first amplifier14, and the timing control device15performs the pulse modulation on the near-infrared laser light of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm, to emit near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is Ins or less and whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)), the near-infrared pulsed light having the angular frequency ω1.

In the near-infrared pulsed light source10A configured as above, the first near-infrared light source11is a near-infrared laser which emits near-infrared laser light which is a continuous wave of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm. Although there are no crystals for laser with good property for a wavelength longer than 1240 nm compared to those for a wavelength range of 1 μm, the present disclosure solves the problem that it is difficult to provide a light source that can acquire laser pulses having high intensity and a pulse width of Ins or less by using a microchip laser.

Further, in the case where the near-infrared laser light of the first near-infrared light source11is a continuous wave of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm, the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11is modulated by the pulse modulator with pulses, and the near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is Ins or less and whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to the value which is the result of adding 10 dB to the pulse duty ratio (dB) which is the ratio of the pulse width and the pulse period is incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31as the first near-infrared light, the average pump power density of the first near-infrared light can be made to have intensity exceeding a threshold of 52 kW/cm2for photorefractive effect occurrence because the photorefractive effect in the nonlinear optical crystal31can be suppressed.

In addition, because the first intensity modulator12modulates the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11to near-infrared pulsed light whose pulse width is Ins or less, and the second intensity modulator13performs modulation with an extinction ratio greater than or equal to 40 dB, the stimulated Brillouin scattering in the nonlinear optical crystal31is suppressed and the efficiency of the generation of a terahertz wave is improved in the case where the near-infrared laser light from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A is made to be incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31.

Further, because the pulse modulator is constituted by the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13, and the second intensity modulator is configured to perform modulation on near-infrared laser light with an extinction ratio greater than or equal to 40 dB, onto the pulse portion of the near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator can be concentrated the major portion of the total energy of the near-infrared pulsed light.

To sum up, the near-infrared pulsed light from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A guarantees a monochromatic characteristic in the generation of a terahertz wave for the nonlinear optical crystal31, the photorefractive effect and the stimulated Brillouin scattering can be suppressed.

The first incidence optical system16in the first near-infrared laser light system10guides the first near-infrared light from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A to the nonlinear optical crystal31.

The first incidence optical system16has a mirror, a lens, and an isolator, and forms a laser beam path for the first near-infrared light, the path extending from an emission port of the near-infrared pulsed light source10A to an incidence port of the nonlinear optical crystal31, while condensing the first near-infrared light onto the inside of the nonlinear optical crystal31using the lens.

In the case where the first incidence optical system16has a lens, because a nonlinear phenomenon in the nonlinear optical crystal31occurs depending on the peak power density (the peak power per unit area), the beam area becomes small because of the condensing of the light onto the inside of the nonlinear optical crystal3using the lens, and the peak power density increases and the nonlinear phenomenon occurs easily.

The second near-infrared laser light system20emits near-infrared laser light which is a continuous wave having the angular frequency ω2, as second near-infrared light, to the nonlinear optical crystal31in the terahertz wave generation system30.

The second near-infrared laser light system20is a so-called seed light generation system.

The angular frequency ω2 has a value which satisfies the above-mentioned equation (1), where the angular frequency of a terahertz wave to be acquired is denoted by ωT, and the angular frequency of the first near-infrared light from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A is denoted by ω1.

More specifically, the angular frequency ω2 has the value which is the result of subtracting the angular frequency ωT from the angular frequency ω1.

The second near-infrared light sources21in the second near-infrared laser light system20is a near-infrared laser, such as a laser diode, which generates and emits the second near-infrared light.

The second near-infrared light source21may be caused to perform a QCW operation, like the first near-infrared light source11.

In the case where the second near-infrared light source21is caused to perform a QCW operation, the second near-infrared light source21is controlled by the timing control device15.

The second amplifier22in the second near-infrared laser light system20amplifies the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21.

The second amplifier22is either a fiber amplifier or a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA).

The second amplifier22is not limited to the single stage, and may be two or more stages.

Further, when the power of the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21is not insufficient, the second amplifier22may be eliminated.

The second incidence optical system23in the second near-infrared laser light system20guides the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21, the second near-infrared light being amplified by the second amplifier22, to the nonlinear optical crystal31.

The second incidence optical system23has a mirror, a lens, and an isolator, and in the case where no emission port is disposed in the second amplifier22or no second amplifier22is disposed, a laser beam path for the second near-infrared light, the path extending from an emission port of the second near-infrared light source21to an incidence port of the nonlinear optical crystal31, is formed while the second near-infrared light is condensed by the lens onto the inside of the nonlinear optical crystal31.

To acquire terahertz waves having any frequencies from the nonlinear optical crystal31, the second near-infrared light source21should just be a near-infrared laser which emits each of second near-infrared light beams having multiple angular frequencies ω2(1) to ω2(n) (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) which correspond to the multiple terahertz waves to be acquired, while switching among the second near-infrared light beams.

As an alternative, a near-infrared laser which emits second near-infrared light beams whose angular frequencies ω2(1) to ω2(n) change multiple times with time may be provided. In this case, the angular frequency of the terahertz wave generated from the nonlinear optical crystal31also changes with time while satisfying the above-mentioned equation (1).

When the angular frequencies ω2(1) to ω2(n) of the second near-infrared light beams from the second near-infrared light source21change, the wavelengths of the second near-infrared light beams also change in accordance with the angular frequencies ω2(1) to ω2(n).

In the case where the second near-infrared light source21emits the second near-infrared light beams having the multiple angular frequencies ω2(1) to ω2(n) in this way, an achromatic optical system24is disposed between the second amplifier22and the nonlinear optical crystal31or between the second near-infrared light source21and the nonlinear optical crystal31, as shown inFIG.3.

The achromatic optical system24is designed in such a way as to meet the phase matching angles in the nonlinear optical crystal31even when the second near-infrared light source21selectively emits a second near-infrared light beam having an angular frequency out of the multiple angular frequencies ω2(1) to ω2(n). More specifically, the achromatic optical system24is an optical system which, even when the phase matching angles change as a result of changing the angular frequency ω2 of the second near-infrared light and the angular frequency ωT of the terahertz wave, changes the angle of the second near-infrared light so as to follow the change in the phase matching angles, thereby causing the phase matching to be satisfied.

The phase matching angles refer to the propagation angles which simultaneously satisfy the above-mentioned equations (1) and (2), as mentioned above.

The achromatic optical system24has either a wavelength dispersion element24aor the wavelength dispersion element24aand a lens pair24b.

The achromatic optical system24shown inFIG.3indicates an optical system having the wavelength dispersion element24aand the lens pair24b.

The wavelength dispersion element24achanges the angle of emergence of the second near-infrared light to be emitted in accordance with the wavelength and the angular frequency of the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21.

The wavelength dispersion element24aincludes a diffraction grating, a prism, or the like.

Here, a case in which the frequency of a terahertz wave which is desired to be acquired from the nonlinear optical crystal31is f1THz in the range of 1 THz to 5 THz, and a case in which the frequency of a terahertz wave which is desired to be acquired from the nonlinear optical crystal31is f2THz (=2×f1) which is twice f1THz are explained.

A relation among the wave number vector k1 of the first near-infrared light from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A, the wave number vector k2 of the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21, and the wave number vector kT of the terahertz wave generated by the nonlinear optical crystal31, the relation being based on the law of conservation of the wave number vectors given by the above-mentioned equation (2) when the frequency of the terahertz wave is f1THz, is shown inFIG.4A.

Further, a relation among the wave number vector k1 of the first near-infrared light from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A, the wave number vector k2 of the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21, and the wave number vector kT of the terahertz wave generated by the nonlinear optical crystal31, the relation being based on the law of conservation of the wave number vectors given by the above-mentioned equation (2) when the frequency of the terahertz wave is f2THz, is shown inFIG.4B.

Although the length of each wave number vector is decided by the angular frequency and the refractive index, when the frequency of the terahertz which is desired to be acquired is doubled, the length of the wave number vector of the terahertz wave nearly doubles because the refractive index does not usually change to be twice as large as before the frequency is doubled. As a result, the angle which the wave number vector k1 forms with the wave number vector k2 changes between when the frequency is f1THz and when the frequency is f2THz, as shown inFIGS.4A and4B.

The angle which the wave number vector k1 forms with the wave number vector k2 is denoted by θ, and it is assumed that the angle θ which the wave number vector k1 forms with the wave number vector k2 changes to 0+dθ when the angular frequency ωT of the terahertz wave which is desired to be acquired is changed to ωT+dωT.

When the angular frequency ω1 of the first near-infrared light from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A is constant, it is necessary to change the angular frequency ω2 of the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21to ω2+dω2 in order to change the angular frequency ωT of the terahertz wave to ωT+dωT, and it is clear from the above-mentioned equation (1) that dω2=−dωT holds at this time.

It is seen from the above-mentioned relation among ωT, dωT, θ, de, ω2, and dω2 that when the angular frequency ω2 of the second near-infrared light is changed to ω2+dω2, it is necessary to change the angle of emergence ϕ of the second near-infrared light emitted from the wavelength dispersion element24afrom ϕ to ϕ+dϕ, and therefore an element having dϕ which causes the following equation (4) to be satisfied is selected as the wavelength dispersion element24a.

In the case where a diffraction grating is used as the wavelength dispersion element24a, a diffraction grating having grooves, the number of grooves satisfying the above-mentioned equation (4), is selected.

In the case where a prism is used as the wavelength dispersion element24a, a prism having dispersion which satisfies the above-mentioned equation (4) is selected.

By thus disposing the wavelength dispersion element24abetween the second amplifier22and the nonlinear optical crystal31or between the second near-infrared light source21and the nonlinear optical crystal31, even when the angular frequency ω2 of the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21is changed in order to acquire multiple terahertz waves, and the phase matching angles in the nonlinear optical crystal31change, the angle of emergence of the second near-infrared light emitted from the wavelength dispersion element24achanges following the change in the angular frequency ω2 of the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21, and the phase matching in the nonlinear optical crystal31is maintained.

When the above-mentioned equation (4) cannot be satisfied for the wavelength dispersion element24a, i.e. when dϕ/dω2≠dθ/dω2, the achromatic optical system24is configured in such a way that the lens pair24bis disposed between the wavelength dispersion element24aand the nonlinear optical crystal31.

The lens pair24bis constituted by two lenses whose focal positions are matched, and functions as a beam expander or a reduction optical system.

When the beam expansion ratio of the lens pair24bis denoted by G, the angle of incidence of the second near-infrared light beam from the wavelength dispersion element24acan be made to be 1/G.

Therefore, by configuring the lens pair24bin such a way that the beam expansion ratio G satisfies the following equation (5), the phase matching in the nonlinear optical crystal31is maintained by the wavelength dispersion element24aand the lens pair24beven when the angular frequency ω2 of the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared light source21is changed in order to acquire multiple terahertz waves, and the phase matching angles in the nonlinear optical crystal31change.

Further, by, in the achromatic optical system24, configuring the wavelength dispersion element24ain such a way that the degree of dispersion dϕ/dω2 of the wavelength dispersion element24ais smaller than the amount of change dθ/dω2 of the phase matching angles, and configuring the lens pair24bto be a reduction optical system, the beam diameter of the second near-infrared light incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31can be narrowed, and the nonlinear optical effect in the nonlinear optical crystal31can be made to be efficient.

The nonlinear optical crystal31in the terahertz wave generation system30is a lithium niobate crystal which generates a terahertz wave using the is-TPG method.

The nonlinear optical crystal31is not limited to a lithium niobate crystal, and should just be a nonlinear optical crystal which generates a terahertz wave using the is-TPG method.

When the first near-infrared light from the first near-infrared laser light system10and the second near-infrared light from the second near-infrared laser light system20are incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31at the angles which satisfy the phase matching angles, the first near-infrared light and the second near-infrared light propagate in such a way as to overlap each other inside the nonlinear optical crystal31, and a terahertz wave is generated from the overlapping portion, as shown inFIG.5.

The angles of incidence at which the first near-infrared light and the second near-infrared light are incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31are decided by the phase matching angles, and the angle of radiation of the terahertz wave is also decided by the phase matching angles.

The phase matching angles are decided by the nonlinear optical crystal31and the combination of the wavelengths of the first near-infrared light and the second near-infrared light, and there is a case in which the phase matching angles are zero depending on the combination.

Because the first near-infrared light from the first near-infrared laser light system10has high intensity, and hence the second near-infrared light and a terahertz wave are generated from the first near-infrared light, the second near-infrared light is amplified to have high intensity by the nonlinear optical crystal31, and, as a result, the amplification of the terahertz wave is performed by the nonlinear optical crystal31with the second near-infrared light being used as pumping light.

As a result, as shown inFIG.5, there occurs TPG having multiple stages in which third near-infrared light of angular frequency ω3 shown by the above equation (3) is generated, and a terahertz wave and the third near-infrared light is generated from the second near-infrared light.

The generation of the third near-infrared light can acquire a terahertz wave having high intensity from the nonlinear optical crystal31.

The terahertz wave extraction element32in the terahertz wave generation system30extracts the terahertz wave generated by the nonlinear optical crystal31.

The terahertz wave extraction element32is a prism made from a material, such as silicon, having a high refractive index and little absorption for terahertz waves, and is mounted to the nonlinear optical crystal31.

Because many types of nonlinear optical crystals31have absorption of terahertz waves, and have a high refractive index in a frequency range of terahertz waves, there is a possibility that a terahertz wave propagates over a long distance inside a nonlinear optical crystal and is absorbed with being confined inside the nonlinear optical crystal because of total reflection.

Because the terahertz wave extraction element32is mounted to the nonlinear optical crystal31, the terahertz wave generated inside the nonlinear optical crystal31is escaped toward the terahertz wave extraction element32, and is emitted from the terahertz wave generation system30while being prevented from being absorbed inside the nonlinear optical crystal31.

In the case where a nonlinear optical crystal having little absorption of terahertz waves is used as the nonlinear optical crystal31, it is not necessary to mount the terahertz wave extraction element32to the nonlinear optical crystal31.

Next, the operation of the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1 will be explained.

First, the operation of the first near-infrared laser light system10will be explained.

Near-infrared laser light which is emitted from the first near-infrared light source11and which is a continuous wave of a single frequency whose wavelength is longer than 1,240 nm is modulated by the first intensity modulator12to near-infrared pulsed light which consists of a high-speed repetition frequency, the near-infrared pulsed light having a pulse width of Ins or less, and is then emitted.

The near-infrared pulsed light modulated by the first intensity modulator12is intensity-modulated by the second intensity modulator13, and is emitted as near-infrared pulsed light whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)).

The near-infrared pulsed light modulated by the second intensity modulator13is amplified by the first amplifier14and is then emitted.

As a result, from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A including the first near-infrared light source11, the first intensity modulator12, the second intensity modulator13, and the first amplifier14is emitted the near-infrared pulsed light of angular frequency ω1, whose pulse width is Ins or less and whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)), after the near-infrared pulsed light has been acquired as a result of performing the pulse modulation on the near-infrared laser light of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm.

The near-infrared pulsed light emitted from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A is guided to the first incidence optical system16, and is incident, as the first near-infrared light, on the nonlinear optical crystal31in the terahertz wave generation system30.

On the other hand, the second near-infrared laser light system20operates as follows.

From the second near-infrared light source21is emitted near-infrared laser light which is a continuous wave having the angular frequency ω2.

The near-infrared laser light emitted from the second near-infrared light source21is amplified by the second amplifier22and is then emitted.

The near-infrared pulsed light emitted from the second amplifier22is guided to the second incidence optical system23, and is incident, as the second near-infrared light, on the nonlinear optical crystal31in the terahertz wave generation system30.

In the case where the second near-infrared light source21emits near-infrared laser light beams whose angular frequencies ω2(1) to ω2(n) change multiple times with time, the near-infrared laser light from the second near-infrared light source21is made to be incident on the second incidence optical system23with its angle of emergence being changed by the achromatic optical system24.

When the first near-infrared light of the angular frequency ω1 which is the near-infrared pulsed light emitted from the first near-infrared laser light system10, and the second near-infrared light of the angular frequency ω2 which is the near-infrared laser light emitted from the second near-infrared laser light system20are incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31, the nonlinear optical crystal31generates a terahertz wave of the angular frequency ωT.

In the nonlinear optical crystal31, the second near-infrared light and a terahertz wave are generated from the first near-infrared light, and therefore the second near-infrared light is amplified and the amplification of the terahertz wave in which the second near-infrared light is used as the pumping light is performed as a result.

As a result, the third near-infrared light of the angular frequency ω3 is generated.

The generation of the third near-infrared light causes a terahertz wave having high intensity to be generated from the nonlinear optical crystal31.

The terahertz wave of the angular frequency ωT which is generated by the nonlinear optical crystal31is extracted by the terahertz wave extraction element32, and is emitted from the terahertz wave generation system30.

As mentioned above, because the near-infrared pulsed light source10A in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1 includes the first near-infrared light source11and the pulse modulator, and the first near-infrared light source11emits near-infrared laser light which is a continuous wave of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm, it is easy to manufacture the near-infrared pulsed light source, the photorefractive effect in the nonlinear optical crystal31can be suppressed in the case of causing the near-infrared laser light from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A to be incident on the nonlinear optical crystal31, and the stimulated Brillouin scattering is suppressed and the efficiency of the generation of a terahertz wave from the nonlinear optical crystal31is improved because the pulse modulator receives the near-infrared laser light from the first near-infrared light source11and emits near-infrared pulsed light having a pulse width of Ins or less as the first near-infrared light.

Further, by configuring the pulse modulator to have the first intensity modulator12to modulate near-infrared laser light to near-infrared pulsed light which consists of a high-speed repetition frequency, this near-infrared pulsed light having a pulse width of Ins or less, and the second intensity modulator13to modulate near-infrared laser light with an extinction ratio greater than or equal to 40 dB, the pulse modulation with a pulse width of Ins or less is performed by the first intensity modulator12and the extinction ratio is improved by the second intensity modulator13, so that the pulse width of Ins or less and the extinction ratio greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)) can be implemented simultaneously, and onto the pulse portion of the near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator can be concentrated the major portion of the total energy.

In addition, the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1 which includes the near-infrared pulsed light source10A configured in this way can acquire a terahertz wave of a single frequency with a high degree of efficiency using the is-TPG method.

In the case where the second near-infrared laser light system20in the terahertz wave generation device is configured to have the second near-infrared light source21and the achromatic optical system24, and the second near-infrared light source21is configured to be a near-infrared laser that emits each of second near-infrared light beams having multiple angular frequencies ω2(1) to ω2(n) while switching among the second near-infrared light beams, the frequency of the terahertz wave generated from the terahertz wave generation system30can be changed.

The terahertz wave generation device which is thus configured to be able to emit a terahertz wave of a single frequency which can be varied is useful when performing spectroscopy or the like using a terahertz wave.

A terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 will be explained on the basis ofFIG.6.

The terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 differs from the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1 in that a third amplifier17and a fourth amplifier18are disposed, while the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 is the same as the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1 in other components.

InFIG.6, the same reference signs as those inFIG.1denote the same components or like components.

The terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 uses the principle of the generation of a terahertz wave, the principle being based on the above-mentioned is-TPG method, and includes a first near-infrared laser light system10, a second near-infrared laser light system20, and a terahertz wave generation system30, as shown inFIG.6.

The first near-infrared laser light system10includes a near-infrared pulsed light source10A and a first incidence optical system16.

The near-infrared pulsed light source10A includes a first near-infrared light source11, a first intensity modulator12and a second intensity modulator13which constitute a pulse modulator, the third amplifier17disposed between the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13, the fourth amplifier18, and a timing control device15.

The second near-infrared laser light system20includes a second near-infrared light source21and a second amplifier22which constitute a laser light source, and a second incidence optical system23, and is the same as the second near-infrared laser light system20in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1. The terahertz wave generation system30includes a nonlinear optical crystal31and a terahertz wave extraction element32, and is the same as the terahertz wave generation system30in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1.

Therefore, an explanation will be made hereinafter, focusing on the third amplifier17and the fourth amplifier18.

The third amplifier17amplifies near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12, and emits the near-infrared pulsed light amplified thereby to the second intensity modulator13.

The third amplifier17is configured as either a fiber amplifier or a combination of a fiber amplifier and an amplifier in free space.

The third amplifier17is not limited to the single stage, and may be two or more stages.

Because the third amplifier17is disposed between the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13, the generation of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in the third amplifier17can be suppressed, and the third amplifier17can efficiently amplify the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12and emit the near-infrared pulsed light amplified thereby to the second intensity modulator13.

ASE is a phenomenon in which an amplifier amplifies spontaneous emission light occurring therein, and when the power level of light incident on the amplifier is close to that of spontaneous emission light, ASE easily occurs and the amplification efficiency of the amplifier is reduced.

Because the third amplifier17receives the near-infrared pulsed light incident thereon from the first intensity modulator12, the difference between the power level of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12and that of spontaneous emission light is large, and therefore the generation of ASE in the third amplifier17can be suppressed and the third amplifier17can perform efficient amplification.

Further, although ASE occurs strongly between pulses, the second intensity modulator13can prevent or remove the transmission of spontaneous emission light during a time period within which ASE occurs strongly with a high extinction ratio.

The fourth amplifier18amplifies first near-infrared light which is near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator constituted by the first intensity modulator12, the second intensity modulator13, and the third amplifier17, and emits the near-infrared pulsed light amplified thereby to the first incidence optical system16.

The fourth amplifier18is configured as either a fiber amplifier or a combination of a fiber amplifier and an amplifier in free space.

The fourth amplifier18is not limited to the single stage, and may be two or more stages.

When the second intensity modulator13has a damage threshold and the near-infrared pulsed light cannot be amplified to sufficient intensity by the third amplifier17, the fourth amplifier18amplifies the near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator to sufficient intensity, and when sufficient peak intensity is not provided for each pulse because the transmittance is not 100% even when the second intensity modulator13is on, the fourth amplifier18amplifies each pulse of the near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator to sufficient peak intensity.

When the intensity of the near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator and the peak intensity of each pulse are sufficiently provided by the third amplifier17, it is not necessary to dispose the fourth amplifier18.

Although the connection in order from the first intensity modulator12which is a high-speed amplitude modulator to the second intensity modulator13which is a high-extinction-ratio modulator is established, the order may be reverse in such a way that a connection in order from the second intensity modulator13to the first intensity modulator12is established.

Even in this case, because the third amplifier17receives the near-infrared pulsed light incident thereon from the second intensity modulator13, the pulse width of the incident near-infrared pulsed light is long and the average power of the incident near-infrared pulsed light is high, and therefore the generation of ASE in the third amplifier17can be suppressed and the third amplifier17can perform efficient amplification.

Next, the operation of the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 will be explained.

First, the operation of the first near-infrared laser light system10will be explained.

Near-infrared laser light which is emitted from the first near-infrared light source11and which is a continuous wave of a single frequency whose wavelength is longer than 1,240 nm is modulated by the first intensity modulator12to near-infrared pulsed light which consists of a high-speed repetition frequency, the near-infrared pulsed light having a pulse width of Ins or less, and is then emitted.

The near-infrared pulsed light on which the pulse modulation is performed by the first intensity modulator12is amplified by the third amplifier17and is then emitted to the second intensity modulator13, and is intensity-modulated by the second intensity modulator13and is emitted as near-infrared pulsed light whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)).

The near-infrared pulsed light modulated by the second intensity modulator13is amplified by the fourth amplifier18and is then emitted.

As a result, from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A including the first near-infrared light source11, the first intensity modulator12, the second intensity modulator13, the third amplifier17, and the fourth amplifier18is emitted the near-infrared pulsed light having an angular frequency ω1, whose pulse width is Ins or less and whose extinction ratio is greater than or equal to (the pulse duty ratio (dB)+10 (dB)) after the near-infrared pulsed light has been acquired as a result of performing the pulse modulation on the near-infrared laser light of wavelength longer than 1,240 nm.

The near-infrared pulsed light emitted from the near-infrared pulsed light source10A is incident, as the first near-infrared light, on the nonlinear optical crystal31in the terahertz wave generation system30via the first incidence optical system16.

On the other hand, the second near-infrared laser light system20operates in the same way as the second near-infrared laser light system20in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1.

The terahertz wave generation system30also operates in the same way as the terahertz wave generation system30in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1, the nonlinear optical crystal31on which the first near-infrared light of the angular frequency ω1 which is the near-infrared pulsed light emitted from the first near-infrared laser light system10and the second near-infrared light of angular frequency ω2 which is the near-infrared laser light emitted from the second near-infrared laser light system20are incident generates a terahertz wave of angular frequency ωT and third near-infrared light of angular frequency ω3, and the high-intensity terahertz wave of the angular frequency ωT is extracted by a terahertz wave extraction element32and is emitted from the terahertz wave generation system30.

As mentioned above, the near-infrared pulsed light source10A in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 also provides the same advantageous effect as that provided by the near-infrared pulsed light source10A in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1, and the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 also provides the same advantageous effect as that provided by the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 1.

In addition, the near-infrared pulsed light source10A in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 can suppress the generation of ASE in the third amplifier17and perform efficient amplification by means of the third amplifier17disposed between the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13, thereby being able to emit high-efficiency and high-intensity near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator which is constituted by the first intensity modulator12, the second intensity modulator13, and the third amplifier17.

The terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 including the near-infrared pulsed light source10A which is configured in this way can acquire a terahertz wave of a single frequency with a high degree of efficiency using the is-TPG method.

A terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 3 will be explained on the basis ofFIG.7.

The terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 3 differs from the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 in that a timing control device15has a frequency divider15a, while the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 3 is the same as the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2 in other components.

InFIG.7, the same reference signs as those inFIGS.1and6denote the same components or like components.

Hereinafter, an explanation will be made focusing on the timing control device15which differs from that in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2.

The timing control device15outputs a first timing signal for determining the repetition frequency of near-infrared pulsed light from a second intensity modulator13to the second intensity modulator13, and performs frequency division on the first timing signal, to output a second timing signal for determining the repetition frequency of near-infrared pulsed light from a first intensity modulator12to the first intensity modulator12.

The timing control device15has a frequency divider15awhich performs the frequency division on the first timing signal, to output the second timing to the first intensity modulator12.

More specifically, the timing control device15has a frequency divider15a, and outputs the timing signals having different frequencies which are synchronized with each other, i.e. the first timing signal and the second timing signal which is acquired by the frequency divider15aby performing the frequency division on the first timing signal to the first intensity modulator12and the second intensity modulator13, respectively.

The timing control device15is a function generator which has the frequency division function (the frequency divider15a).

Here, the repetition frequency f2 of the near-infrared pulsed light from the second intensity modulator13is set to be equal to the frequency f of a terahertz wave which is to be generated by a nonlinear optical crystal31in accordance with the first timing signal, and the repetition frequency f1 of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12is set to be equal to n (a natural number greater than or equal to 2) times as high as the repetition frequency f2 of the near-infrared pulsed light from the second intensity modulator13, i.e. n×f in accordance with the first timing signal on which the frequency division is performed by the frequency divider15a.

When the first intensity modulator12is controlled using the first timing signal in such a way that the repetition frequency f1 of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12becomes n×f, the average power of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12which is incident on a third amplifier17is n times as high compared with that in the case where the repetition frequency f1 of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12is set to f.

As a result of multiplying the average power of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12which is incident on the third amplifier17by a factor of n, the generation of ASE in the third amplifier17can be suppressed more strongly, and efficient amplification can be performed.

In the case where a first near-infrared light source11is caused to perform a QCW operation, the first near-infrared light source11is controlled using the second timing signal from the frequency divider15ain the timing control device15.

Further, also in the case where the third amplifier17is caused to perform a QCW operation, the third amplifier17is controlled using the second timing signal from the frequency divider15ain the timing control device15.

Because the operation of the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 3 is substantially the same as the operation of the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2, with the exception that the control to set the second timing signal from the frequency divider15ais performed in such a way that the repetition frequency f1 of the near-infrared pulsed light from the first intensity modulator12becomes n×f, an explanation of the operation will be omitted hereinafter.

As mentioned above, the near-infrared pulsed light source10A in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 3 also provides the same advantageous effect as that provided by the near-infrared pulsed light source10A in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2, and the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 3 also provides the same advantageous effect as that provided by the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 2.

In addition, because the near-infrared pulsed light source10A in the terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 3 can cause the near-infrared pulsed light having high average power from the first intensity modulator12to be incident on the third amplifier17, the generation of ASE in the third amplifier17can be suppressed and efficient amplification can be performed, thereby being able to emit high-efficiency and high-intensity near-infrared pulsed light from the pulse modulator which is constituted by the first intensity modulator12, the second intensity modulator13, and the third amplifier17.

The terahertz wave generation device according to Embodiment 3 including the near-infrared pulsed light source10A which is configured in this way can acquire a terahertz wave of a single frequency with a high degree of efficiency using the is-TPG method.

It is to be understood that an arbitrary combination of embodiments can be made, a change can be made in an arbitrary component of each of the embodiments, or an arbitrary component in each of the embodiments can be omitted.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The near-infrared pulsed light source according to the present disclosure can be used in various fields including a basic science field, an engineering field, and a medical biotechnology field, and can be used for various types of laser systems.

The terahertz wave generation device including the near-infrared pulsed light source according to the present disclosure can be applied as a terahertz wave generation device that outputs higher average power.

Further, because the terahertz generation device according to the present disclosure including the near-infrared pulsed light source, and the second near-infrared light source that emits second near-infrared light beams having multiple angular frequencies can cause the frequency of a terahertz wave to be a single one and to be variable, the terahertz generation device is suitable for applications including spectroscopy using a terahertz wave.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST