Terahertz Kerr effect

By Matthias Hoffmann, N. Brandt, H. Hwang, K. Yeh, Keith A. Nelson. 2009

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We have observed optical birefringence in liquids induced by single-cycle terahertz pulses with field strengths exceeding 100 kV/cm. The induced change in polarization is proportional to the square of the terahertz electric field. The time-dependent terahertz Kerr signal is composed of a fast electronic response that follows the individual cycles of the electric field and a slow exponential response associated with molecular orientation.

Subfields: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/cb9a3a38022ccce004ea09aff3800ba2902efbf2