Measurements of the THz absorption and dispersion of ZnTe and their relevance to the electro-optic detection of THz radiation
Open accessAbstract
Via THz time-domain spectroscopy, we have measured the absorption and index of refraction of single-crystal 〈110〉 ZnTe from 0.3 to 4.5 THz. We find that the absorption is dominated by two lower-frequency phonon lines at 1.6 and 3.7 THz and not by the transverse-optical (TO) -phonon line at 5.3 THz as previously assumed. However, the index of refraction is determined mainly by the TO-phonon line. Using these data, we discuss a frequency-domain picture of electro-optic detection of THz radiation below the TO-phonon resonance and compare with the photoconductive THz receiver over the same frequency range.
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The increase in spectral phase at high frequencies can be understood as a result of the electro-optic sampling process: the measured electro-optic signal does not have exactly the same temporal shape as the true electric field of the THz pulse incident on the detection crystal.
“This can be understood as a result of the electro-optic sampling process: the measured electro-optic signal does not have exactly the same temporal shape as the true electric field of the THz pulse incident on the detection crystal [31, 36].”
From A Tutorial on THz Pulse Analysis: Accurate Retrieval of Pulse Arrival Times, Spectral Energy Density and Absolute Spectral Phase (2025) · cites this paper as [36]
The response function includes the velocity mismatch between the THz and probe pulse as a result of the detection crystal's frequency-dependent refractive index, as well as the variation in the electro-optic coefficient r41(ω) with frequency.
“This response function includes the velocity mismatch between the THz and probe pulse as a result of the detection crystal's frequency-dependent refractive index [36], as well as the variation in the electro-optic coefficient r 41 (ω) with frequency [31].”
From A Tutorial on THz Pulse Analysis: Accurate Retrieval of Pulse Arrival Times, Spectral Energy Density and Absolute Spectral Phase (2025) · cites this paper as [36]
Similar oscillations in Σ(ω;t_s) were observed previously in measurements and simulations, and Eq. 13 clarifies their origin.
“Similar oscillations were observed previously in both measurements 18 and simulations, 14 and Eq. 13 clarifies their origin.”
From Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of transient metallic and superconducting states (2015) · cites this paper as [18]
In the presence of broadening of the step-function change in conductivity, the deviation of Σ from σ is most pronounced at low frequencies, as observed.
“In the presence of either form of broadening of the step-function change in conductivity, the deviation of Σ from σ will be most pronounced at low frequencies, which is indeed observed. 9,18”
From Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of transient metallic and superconducting states (2015) · cites this paper as [18]
At low frequencies, the near constant −π/2 phase is as expected for a single-cycle pulse; the nonlinear increase in phase with frequency can be assigned to chirp processes such as dispersion in the electro-optic crystal and the GaAs emitter.
“At low frequencies, the near constant −π/2 phase is as expected for a single-cycle pulse,20 while the nonlinear increase in phase with frequency can be assigned to processes that introduce chirp, such as dispersion in the electro-optic crystal21 and the GaAs emitter.18”
From Dual-Beam THz Spectrometer with Low-Aberration Optics and Off-Axis Multipixel Photoconductive Emitters for Reduced Systematic Errors (2025) · cites this paper as [21]
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Terahertz spectroscopy and imaging - Modern techniques and applications
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- Authors
- Gallot, G., Zhang, J., McGowan, R. W., Jeon, T.-I., & Grischkowsky, D.
- Affiliations
- Oklahoma State University (US)
- Venue
- Applied Physics Letters
- Publisher
- AIP Publishing
- Published
- 1999-06-07
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 23
- Pages
- 3450-3452
- ISSN
- 0003-6951 (ISSN-L)
- 1077-3118
- OpenAlex
- W2083618707
- Cited by
- 241
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 7.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Applied Physics Letters (publishedVersion)
- SHAREOK (University of Oklahoma; Oklahoma State University; Central Oklahoma University) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- SHAREOK (University of Oklahoma; Oklahoma State University; Central Oklahoma University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Terahertz technology and applications
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advanced Semiconductor Detectors and Materials
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Superconducting and THz Device Technology
- Keywords
- ZnTe, terahertz absorption, refractive index, transverse optical phonons, electro-optic detection, semiconductor single crystals, frequency domain analysis
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