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Hu H, Hu X X, Gong L P, et al. Research progress of terahertz vector beams[J]. Opto-Electron Eng, 2024, 51(8): 240071. doi: 10.12086/oee.2024.240071
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Research progress of terahertz vector beams
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Abstract
In recent years, terahertz waves have garnered significant attention due to their unique properties. Among them, terahertz vector beams with different polarization characteristics exhibit novel spatial distributions and show increasingly broad prospects for applications. This review explores the generation methods of terahertz vector beams, their applications in various fields, and future development directions. Firstly, the methods for generating terahertz vector beams are systematically classified, and the research progress in terahertz vector beam generation is introduced. The principles of these methods and the characteristics of the generated vector beams are elaborated in detail. In addition, typical applications using terahertz vector beams are summarized. Lastly, the challenges and possibilities of terahertz vector field manipulation using different devices are prospected. The review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the generation and application of terahertz vector beams and offer guidance for future related research and development.-
Keywords:
- terahertz wave /
- vector beam /
- beam shaping
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References
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Overview
In recent years, terahertz waves have shown broad application prospects in imaging, communications, material characterization, and other fields due to their unique coherence, strong penetration, low energy, and the freedom to excite the rotation and vibration of atoms and substances. Among various terahertz-structured beams, vector beams with unique polarization characteristics exhibit novel spatial distributions and demonstrate a growing range of potential application values. The vector beam refers to a beam with different polarization states at different positions on the same wave vibration plane at the same time. Unlike a scalar beam, the polarization state of a vector beam changes with its position in space. This review explores the generation methods of terahertz vector beams, their applications in diverse fields, and future developmental directions. To begin with, we systematically classify the generation methods of terahertz vector beams based on formation techniques. The advancements in direct-generation devices such as ultrafast current devices, nonlinear devices, and quantum cascade lasers are discussed. Additionally, we highlight progress in beam shaping devices such as birefringent wave plates, metasurfaces, liquid crystals, and total internal reflection devices regarding terahertz vector beam generation. The detailed explanations of the principles of these methods and the characteristics of the generated vector beams are provided. Next, we present representative applications utilizing terahertz vector beams, including dispersive transmission, polarization measurement, imaging sensing, vector holography, and electron dynamics. The unique characteristics of terahertz vector beams offer significant advantages and potential in these applications, such as improved resolution, enhanced information transfer rates, and precise material property measurements. Finally, we discuss the challenges and possibilities involved in terahertz vector field manipulation using different devices. Among these devices, terahertz quantum cascade lasers and metasurfaces will be the future development trend, with broad development prospects and application potential. Terahertz quantum cascade lasers can achieve high-power, narrow linewidth, and continuously tunable terahertz radiation. Metasurfaces provide more possibilities for research on using integrated optical systems to replace traditional optical systems to generate vector beams. In addition, liquid crystal is also one of the promising materials suitable for terahertz vector beam modulators. Combining active metasurfaces with multi-layer liquid crystals may become the final solution of compact, efficient, and tunable vector beam shaping devices in the terahertz frequency range. With further development of technology and in-depth research on applications, terahertz vector beams will demonstrate their potential and application value in a wider range of fields.
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Hu H, Hu X X, Gong L P, et al. Research progress of terahertz vector beams[J]. Opto-Electron Eng, 2024, 51(8): 240071. doi: 10.12086/oee.2024.240071
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Figure 1.
Generation of terahertz vector beams based on ultrafast current devices. (a) GaAs-based microstructured photoconductive antenna[38]; (b) InP-based microstructured photoconductive antenna[39]; (c) Multi-pixel photoconductive emitters[41]; (d) Radially polarized terahertz waves from one-color laser-induced plasma filament[42]; (e) Ultrashort laser off-axis injecting parabolic plasma channel emits high-field terahertz waves[44]; (f) Dynamic loop currents radiates angularly polarized terahertz pulses[46]; (g, h) Light-driven nanoscale vectorial currents radiates terahertz waves[47]; (i) Nanostructured spintronic emitters[52]
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Figure 2.
Generation of terahertz vector beams based on nonlinear devices. (a) Terahertz vector beams generation using segmented nonlinear optical crystals[54]; (b, c) Terahertz polarization pulse shaping with arbitrary field control[56]; (d) Direct emission of broadband terahertz cylindrical vector Bessel beam[58]; (e) Infrared vector beam pumping generates terahertz vector beam bearing tailored topological charge[59]; (f) Direct generation of a terahertz vector beam from a ZnTe crystal excited by a focused pulse[60]
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Figure 3.
Generation of terahertz vector beams based on quantum cascade lasers. (a, b) Quantum cascade laser with polarization-winding emission[67]; (c) Electrically-pumped compact topological bulk lasers[68]; (d) Single-mode electrically pumped terahertz laser[69]
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Figure 4.
Generation of terahertz vector beams based on birefringent wave plates. (a) Different schemes of Q-plate for vector beam shaping[70]; (b) 3D printed continuous Q-plate[72]; (c) 3D printed segmented Q-plate[73]
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Figure 5.
Generation of terahertz vector beams based on metasurfaces. (a) Dielectric metasurfaces via spin-decoupled phase control[86]; (b) Dielectric metasurfaces for complete control of phase, amplitude, and polarization[88]; (c) Graphene meta-devices for dynamically controlling terahertz waves[90]; (d) Tight focusing field of cylindrical vector beams[93]; (e) Longitudinally varying vector vortex beams[94]; (f) Structured vector field manipulation of along the propagation direction[95]
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Figure 6.
Generation of terahertz vector beams based on liquid crystal[122]. (a) Schematic of tunable cylindrical vector beams generator; (b) Exploded view of the structure of a unit cell; (c) Measurement results of reconfigurable polarization patterns; (d) Measurement results of the reconfigurable vector beams
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Figure 7.
Generation of terahertz vector beams based on total internal reflection device. (a) Achromatic axially symmetric wave plate[123]; (b) Achromatic non-axisymmetric wave plate[124]; (c) Generation of azimuthally- and radially-polarized terahertz beams from a spintronic terahertz emitter[125]
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Figure 8.
Non-dispersive transmission of terahertz pulses. (a) Non-dispersive transmission of terahertz pulses through metal waveguides[17]; (b, c) Efficient coupling of broadband radially polarized terahertz pulse beams to waveguides[55]; (d) Launching terahertz pulses generation at the semiconductor surfaces into coaxial waveguides[19]
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Figure 9.
Polarization measurement. (a) Vector vortex analysis for polarization measurements[123]; (b) Highly sensitive polarization rotation measurements[28]; (c, d) Three-in-one polarization detector[20]
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Figure 10.
Imaging and sensing. (a) Azimuthally polarized beam used to obtain electromagnetic properties of matter[21]; (b) Wavefront-modified vector beams for terahertz cornea spectroscopy[22]; (c) Azimuthally polarized terahertz pulses for spectral measurements of water vapor[46]; (d) Longitudinally varying vector beams for measurement of media thickness[99]
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Figure 11.
Vectorial hologram. (a) Dielectric metasurface for vectorial meta-holograms[88]; (b, c)Tri-layer metallic metasurface for multi-channel vectorial holograms[91]
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Figure 12.
Electron dynamics. (a) Coupled spin and orbital electron dynamics driven by terahertz vector fields[23]; (b) Azimuthally polarized beam steer the spin and spatial distributions of two interacting electrons in a quantum dot[24]
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