ZnTe and GaSe Crystals for THz Generation
We extended the selection of our standard thin ZnTe and GaSe crystals for THz generation by optical rectification of femtosecond laser pulses!
ZnTe Crystals
EKSMA Optics delivers 10×10 mm aperture ZnTe crystals with <110> orientation. Available ZnTe crystal thicknesses for quick ex-stock delivery are: 1.0, 0.5, 0.2 and 0.1 mm. Crystals can be mounted into 1 inch ring holders for convenient handling.
GaSe Crystals
We have prepared GaSe crystals with z-cut orientation and clear aperture dia 7 mm for quick delivery ex-stock. Available thicknesses are 30 micron, 100 micron and 1 mm.
Semiconductor Terahertz GaSe, ZnTe Crystals
Semiconductor THz Crystals: ZnTe
(ZincTelluride) Crystals with orientation are used for THz generation by optical rectification process. Optical rectification is a difference frequency generation in media with large second order
susceptibility. For femtosecond laser pulses which have large bandwidth the frequency components interact with each other and their difference produce bandwidth from 0 to several THz.
Detection of the THz pulse occurs via free space electro optic detection in another <110> oriented ZnTe crystal. The THz pulse and the visible pulse are propagated collinearly through the ZnTe crystal. The THz pulse induces a birefringence in ZnTe crystal which is read out by a linearly polarized visible pulse. When both the visible pulse and the THz pulse are in the crystal at the same
time, the visible polarization will be rotated by the THz pulse. Using a λ/4 waveplate and a beamsplitting polarizer together with a set of balanced photodiodes, it is possible to map THz pulse
amplitude by monitoring the visible pulse polarization rotation after the ZnTe crystal at a variety of delay times with respect to the THz pulse. The ability to read out the full electric field, both amplitude and delay, is one of the attractive features of time domain THz spectroscopy. ZnTe are also used for IR optical components substrates and vacuum deposition.
GaSe(Gallium Selenide) crystals
used for THz generation shows a large bandwidth of up to 41 THz.
GaSe is a negative uniaxial layered semiconductor with a hexagonal structure of 62 m point group and a direct bandgap of 2,2 eV at 300 K. GaSe crystal features high damage threshold, large nonlinear optical coefficient (54 pm/V),suitable transparent range, and low absorption coefficient, which make it an alternative solution for broadband mid infrared electromagnetic waves generation. Due to broadband THz generation and detection using a sub 20 fs laser source, GaSe emitter detector system performance is considered to achieve comparable or even better results than using thin ZnTe crystals. In order to achieve frequency selective THz wave generation and detection system, GaSe crystals of appropriate thicknessshould be used.