Comparison of terahertz radiation spectra emitted from single-color IR and UV filaments

Abstract

Emission of THz radiation from a single-color ultraviolet (248 nm) and infrared (744 nm) filament in air is studied experimentally and compared at similar pulse durations, focusing conditions and excess of peak pulse power over the critical power for self-focusing. An angular distribution of the terahertz emission for both ultraviolet and infrared pump is conical with the closed cone angle. In contrast, the terahertz radiation energy and spectrum differ significantly. The energy of terahertz emission from ultraviolet filament is 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than the terahertz yield from the infrared filament. The terahertz spectrum of ultraviolet filament is shifted to the low-frequency range and narrower as compared to the spectrum of terahertz emission from infrared filament. We explain qualitatively the difference in terahertz yields and spectra by lower intensity and plasma density in the ultraviolet filament. Similar behavior of THz spectra is observed when changing the IR filament parameters.