Nanomaterials (Sep 2023)

Mechanism of Single-Cycle THz Pulse Generation and X-ray Emission: Water-Flow Irradiated by Two Ultra-Short Laser Pulses

  • Hsin-Hui Huang,
  • Saulius Juodkazis,
  • Eugene G. Gamaly,
  • Vladimir T. Tikhonchuk,
  • Koji Hatanaka

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13182505
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 18
p. 2505

Abstract

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The interaction of two subsequent ultra-short sub-milli-Joule laser pulses with a thin water flow results in an emission of a strong single-cycle THz pulse associated with enhanced soft X-ray emission. In this paper, a chain of processes produced in this interaction is analyzed and compared with other THz generation studies. It is demonstrated that the enhanced THz and X-ray emissions are produced by an energetic electron beam accelerated in the interaction of a main laser pulse with liquid water ejected from the surface by the pre-pulse. This scheme thus provides an efficient laser energy conversion in a THz pulse, avoiding laser self-focusing and filamentation in air.

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