Generation of high-quality terahertz OAM mode based on soft-aperture difference frequency generation

Abstract

We demonstrate the generation of high-quality tunable terahertz (THz) vortices in an eigenmode by employing soft-aperture difference frequency generation of a vortex output and a Gaussian mode. The generated THz vortex output exhibits a high-quality orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode with a topological charge of $\ell_{THz}=\pm1$ in a frequency range of 2-6 THz. The maximum average power of the THz vortex output obtained was ~3.3 $\mu$W at 4 THz.