Abstract

Laser-induced air plasma was produced, characterized, and optimized preliminary to using air plasma as a THz source. An 800 nm, 50-fs pulsed Ti:Sapphire system was used to produce plasma in ambient air, in addition, a 40 kHz ultrasonic transducer as a plasma detector. A frequency doubled pulse enables production of THz in plasma via four wave mixing. An upper limit was determined for the power of the THz radiation produced by the air plasma, and electrooptic detection of a diagnostic THz signal was accomplished.

© 2008 Optical Society of America