Asynchronous Terahertz-field sampling with soliton microcombs

Abstract

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy records the electric field of terahertz transients and underpins applications from materials science to non-destructive testing. Asynchronous optical sampling enables systems without moving parts, but its acquisition rate remains fundamentally limited by the repetition-rate of the driving femtosecond lasers. Here, we demonstrate asynchronous terahertz-field sampling with two chip-based soliton microcombs. Their ultrahigh 25 GHz pulse repetition-rate drastically reduces dead-time during acquisition, and stabilization via sideband injection-locking enables coherent averaging without active feedback loops. At 10 kHz acquisition rate, we achieve a dynamic range of 74 dB in a single 100 $μ$s scan, and 100 dB after 50 ms of coherent averaging with a 1.6 THz bandwidth. Acquisition rates of up to 100 kHz are demonstrated, limited only by detection electronics. Together with a proof-of-concept silicon wafer thickness measurement, these results establish soliton microcombs as compact sources for rapid terahertz-field sampling.