Theoretical Exploration of Terahertz Single-Photon Detection and Imaging by Nonlinear Optical Frequency Up-Conversion
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Theoretical Exploration of Terahertz Single-Photon Detection and Imaging by Nonlinear Optical Frequency Up-Conversion Xiaoqin Yin 1 & Junliang Liu 1,2,3 & Shuzhen Fan 1,2,4 Xian Zhao 1,2 & Jiaxiong Fang 1,2,5
& Yongfu Li
1,2,4
& Zhaojun Liu
1,3,4
&
Received: 20 September 2019 / Accepted: 3 August 2020/ # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract
Terahertz single-photon detection and imaging have attracted full attention recently. Nonlinear optical frequency up-conversion is a promising technique that can be expected to satisfy this demand thanks to its high sensitivity and fast response. In this paper, theoretical analysis and numerical calculations based on the organic salt 4′dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate (DAST) crystal were performed to show that the optimization of the detection of terahertz is different from that of the generation of terahertz, including the use of difference-frequency generation (DFG) technique, the larger thickness of the crystal, and especially the selection of the polarization direction of the pumping laser. For two different polarization configurations, the photons of the up-converted signal light both can be amplified compared with the number of incident terahertz photons under some optimal designs of the nonlinear frequency conversion process. Therefore, terahertz single-photon detection can be realized with single-photon detectors (SPDs) or even possibly with ordinary avalanche photodiodes (APDs). Furthermore, for terahertz single-photon imaging, the frequency up-conversion with the pumping laser polarized along b-axis of DAST crystal has a better performance, which is rarely used in terahertz generation. Keywords Terahertz single-photon detection . Terahertz single-photon imaging . Optimization . Frequency up-conversion . Nonlinear optics
1 Introduction With the vigorous development of terahertz technology, many of its emerging applications in safety inspection, medical diagnosis, and non-destructive quality monitoring have become hot
* Shuzhen Fan [email protected] Extended author information available on the last page of the article
Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves
topics of scientific research [1, 2]. As the key to terahertz applications, detection and imaging techniques with high sensitivity have been paid great attention. Many kinds of detectors with their distinctive characteristics have been put forward to detect the terahertz wave. Thermal terahertz detectors [3], electro-optical detectors [4], and semiconductor-based detectors [5] are all used in terahertz detection for a long history. In recent years, terahertz detectors have been developing quickly and the sensitivity has improved immensely. Some unique detectors such as quantum dot detectors [6] and charge-sensitive infrared phototransistors [7] have high sensitivity enough to achieve terahertz single-photon detection. Further developments are in need due to the cryogenic operation and single frequency limitation of those detectors. Tera
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