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Physics, Optics, physics.optics, Physics, Instrumentation and Detectors, physics.ins-det
Abstract:
We report electro-optic sampling (EOS) response and terahertz (THz) optical
rectification (OR) in z-cut alpha-quartz. Due to its small effective
second-order nonlinearity, echo-free waveform of intense THz pulses with a few
MV/cm electric-field strength can be measured faithfully with no saturation
effect. Both its OR and EOS responses are broad with extension up to ~8 THz.
Strikingly, the latter responses are independent of the crystal thickness, a
plausible indication of strong surface contribution to the total second-order
nonlinear susceptibility of quartz. Our study introduces thin quartz plates as
the reliable THz electro-optic medium for echo-free, high field THz detection.