Abstract
We report the observation of subpicosecond terahertz (-ray) pulses with energies from a laser-driven ion accelerator, thus rendering the peak power of the source higher even than that of state-of-the-art synchrotrons. Experiments were performed with intense laser pulses (up to ) to irradiate thin metal foil targets. Ion spectra measured simultaneously showed a square law dependence of the -ray yield on particle number. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show the presence of transient currents at the target rear surface which could be responsible for the strong -ray emission.
- Received 10 December 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.074802
© 2013 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Powering Up Terahertz Sources
Published 15 August 2013
A laser-based scheme generates short pulses of terahertz radiation with peak power close to a gigawatt.
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