Generation of terahertz radiation during reflection of femtosecond laser pulses from a metal surface

• Published in: Journal of experimental and theoretical physics Vol. 119; no. 2; pp. 179 - 195
• Main Authors: Mironov, V. A., Oladyshkin, I. V., Suvorov, E. V., Fadeev, D. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-08-2014; Springer
• Subjects: Analysis; Atoms; Classical and Quantum Gravitation; Electric waves; Electromagnetic radiation; Electromagnetic waves; Elementary Particles; Molecules; Optics; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Field Theory; Relativity Theory; Solid State Physics; Laser Pulse; Optical Field; Optical Pulse; Surface Current; Femtosecond Laser Pulse
• ISSN: 1063-7761; 1090-6509
• DOI: 10.1134/S1063776114070139

The features of terahertz radiation generated upon oblique incidence of a femtosecond laser pulse on a metal surface are investigated theoretically. We propose a Cherenkov-type generation mechanism associated with excitation of low-frequency surface currents by a
p
-polarized optical field. The nonlinear surface currents and corresponding electrodynamic characteristics of low-frequency radiation are calculated analytically and by numerical simulation using the hydrodynamic model. The features of Cherenkov generation of terahertz radiation are analyzed, and techniques are proposed for increasing efficiency.