Organic Crystals for THz Photonics
Source abstract
Abstract
Organic crystals with second-order optical nonlinearity feature very high and ultra-fast optical nonlinearities and are therefore attractive for various photonics applications. During the last decade, they have been found particularly attractive for terahertz (THz) photonics. This is mainly due to the very intense and ultra-broadband THz-wave generation possible with these crystals. We review recent progress and challenges in the development of organic crystalline materials for THz-wave generation and detection applications. We discuss their structure, intrinsic properties, and advantages compared to inorganic alternatives. The characteristic properties of the most widely employed organic crystals at present, such as DAST, DSTMS, OH1, HMQ-TMS, and BNA are analyzed and compared. We summarize the most important principles for THz-wave generation and detection, as well as organic THz-system configurations based on either difference-frequency generation or optical rectification. In addition, we give state-of-the-art examples of very intense and ultra-broadband THz systems that rely on organic crystals. Finally, we present some recent breakthrough demonstrations in nonlinear THz photonics enabled by very intense organic crystalline THz sources, as well as examples of THz spectroscopy and THz imaging using organic crystals as THz sources for various scientific and technological applications.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Terahertz technology and applications · Spectroscopy and Laser Applications · Photonic and Optical Devices
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Engineering, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland
Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana and Department of Physics, University of Maribor, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Funding
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung · InnoSuisse · Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RS
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