Microtech Instruments terahertz oscillator delivers 100 GHz spectral width

The TPO-850 terahertz parametric oscillator delivers up to 0.1 mW of average power, and >150 mW of peak power. Its central frequency of 0.85 THz and spectral width of 100 GHz fit into one of the atmospheric transmission windows, allowing use in terahertz imaging. It is based on a quasi-phase-matched gallium arsenide (GaAs) crystal inside an optical parametric oscillator.
Microtech Instruments
Eugene, OR
[email protected]

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PRESS RELEASE

The new TPO-850 Terahertz oscillator generates up to 0.1 mW of average power concentrated in the atmospheric transparency window at 850 GHz complementing recently announced TPO-1500.

Eugene, OR, September 29th, 2011. Microtech Instruments, Inc. announces its new terahertz source complementing its THz source product lines, the Terahertz Parametric Oscillator—TPO-850—which delivers up to 0.1 mW of average power (>150 mW of peak power). Its central frequency of 0.85 THz and spectral width of 100 GHz fit perfectly into one of the atmospheric transmission windows, making it an ideal source for terahertz imaging. While Microtech Instruments’ BWO sources can provide more average power, the high peak power of the TPO-850 makes it suitable for imaging systems employing nonlinear optical effects and also pump-probe or time domain terahertz spectroscopy, while sufficiently high average power makes it suitable for thermal detector array imaging. This makes the TPO-850 a complementary addition to the existing product lines. http://www.mtinstruments.com/thzsources/index.htm

Operation of both the TPO-850 and TPO-1500 are based on difference frequency generation in quasi-phase-matched Gallium Arsenide crystal placed inside an optical parametric oscillator pumped by an ultrafast fiber laser. This second product resulting from our DARPA collaboration and STTR contract with the AFOSR increases our sources for nonlinear imaging systems. Additionally, one should note that either of these systems can be upgraded to operate at both frequencies. This added flexibility is an important feature to be aware of as it only requires a different OC-GaAs crystal and adjustment of the OPO to switch from one frequency to another.

Walter Hurlbut, R&D Manager at Microtech comments, “These new high peak power sources complement our BWO product line well as they add high peak power above what a BWO can provide while still providing significantly higher spectral power density than other optical sources. This narrow band source is ideal for the improving contrast of THz imaging systems based on THz-to-optical upconversion. The narrow band THz source combined with a spectrally narrow ultrafast laser can improve the contrast ratio of an imaging system by several orders of magnitude.”

The TPO-1500 and the TPO-850 complement the electronic terahertz sources manufactured by Microtech Instruments. The electronic terahertz sources are based on backward wave oscillators (BWOs) combined with frequency multipliers, which work well up to 1.4 THz but run out of power at 1.5 THz and above. Also, the TPO-850 and TPO-1500’s high peak power make these sources more suitable for nonlinear optical applications.

Microtech Instruments is a leading manufacturer of terahertz components and systems, including terahertz spectrometers, generators, and detectors. Committed to innovation, Microtech collaborates with leading research organizations worldwide.

For more information, visit www.mtinstruments.com, or contact Renee Isley at [email protected].

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