Colliding of two counter-propagating laser pulses is a widely used approach to create a laser field or intensity surge. We experimentally demonstrate broadband coherent terahertz (THz) radiation generation through the interaction of colliding laser pulses with gas plasma. The THz radiation has a dipole-like emission pattern perpendicular to the laser propagation direction with a detected peak electric field 1 order of magnitude higher than that by single pulse excitation. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, it provides a deep insight into the physical picture of laser–plasma interaction, exploits an important option to the promising plasma-based THz source, and may find more applications in THz nonlinear near-field imaging and spectroscopy.

Ultra-broadband, intense, coherent terahertz (THz) radiation can be generated, detected, and manipulated using laser-induced gas or liquid plasma as both the THz wave transmitter and detector, with a frequency coverage spanning across and beyond the whole “THz gap.” Such a research topic is termed “plasma-based THz wave photonics in gas and liquid phases.” In this paper, we review the most important experimental and theoretical works of the topic in the non-relativistic region with pump laser intensity below 1018W/cm2.

作为生活中最常见的液体,液态水在学术研究中具有重要的地位。但由于水对太赫兹辐射具有极大的吸收系数,长期以来它并不被视为一种合适的太赫兹辐射源。不过近年来已经有研究团队在实验上证实了飞秒激光激励液态水产生太赫兹波的可行性,并且针对这一现象机制的相关理论模型也已被提出。由此可见,对该领域的现有研究成果进行总结,对水乃至其他液体作为辐射源产生太赫兹波的研究是具有重要意义的。对液态水中太赫兹波产生这一研究领域近些年的发展进行概述,包括两种不同的液态水辐射源系统方案的实验设计、与产生的太赫兹波能量有关的因素、相关理论模型的设计思路。最后结合自身理解与当前的研究成果,对这一领域的未来发展方向进行展望。