Enhanced Broadband Terahertz Radiation from Two-Colour Laser Pulse Interaction with Thin Dielectric Solid Target in Air

We report enhanced broadband terahertz (THz) generation and detailed characterization from the interaction of femtosecond two-colour laser pulses with thin transparent dielectric tape target in ambient air. The proposed source is easy to implement and exhibits excellent scalability with laser energy. Spectral characterization using Fourier transform spectrometer reveals yield enhancement of more than 150% in the THz region of 0.1–10 THz with respect to conventional two-colour laser plasma source in ambient air. Further, the source spectrum extends up to 40 THz with an enhancement of flux >30%. Experimental results, well supported with two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, establish that the transient photo-current produced by the asymmetric laser pulse interaction with air plasma as well as near solid density plasma formed on the tape surface is responsible for the enhanced terahertz generation. The source will be useful for the multidisciplinary activities and ongoing applications of the laboratory-based terahertz sources.