This article presents a theoretical analysis of high-field terahertz (THz) radiation generation from chirped laser pulse interaction with a plasma of slanting density modulation. The mechanism is based on strong nonlinear transverse current produced by the beating of two chirped laser pulses, where the plasma density modulation is inclined at angle to the propagation of the lasers. We claim that oblique spatial density ripple plays a crucial role in field enhancement of THz. At resonance (due to the phase-matching), the field strength of THz becomes maximum for a particular slating angle of the plasma density modulation. We claim that the oblique spatial density ripple and laser frequency-chirp combinedly play a crucial role in field enhancement of THz field. We observe that stable THz is generated with a maximum field strength of 100 MV/cm and a relatively broad spectrum extending out to 2.4 THz, with a strong dependence on the selection of slating angle of plasma density ripple and laser frequency chirp parameter, which corresponds to the conversion efficiency in order of 10 −2. The efficiency of the process may be optimized and controlled by the laser and plasma parameters, which may be useful in various applications of these kind of high-field THz.

In semiconductors, electrons and their corresponding holes exist as free carriers that are created in pairs in inter-band transitions. At very high carrier densities, the carrier-carrier collisions dominate over carrier-lattice collisions and these carriers begin to behave collectively to form a plasma. In this study, we present phase-matched terahertz (THz) radiation generation from laser interaction with electron-hole plasmas. Two collinear laser pulses of finite spot size propagate in an electron-hole plasma to generate THz radiation. The lasers beat and exert a ponderomotive force on electrons and holes. The carriers oscillate with oscillatory velocity at the laser beat frequency. The laser beat wave interacts with the plasma density perturbation and produces a nonlinear transverse current with nonzero curl. This nonlinear current drives coherent THz radiation. Spacial density modulation of hole density is considered to satisfy the phase-matching condition for resonant interaction. The systematic analysis of this mechanism shows an efficient and tunable source of THz radiation, which varies with various parameters such as the density modulation, laser intensity and other laser parameters.

Terahertz (THz) field excitation by a rotating relativistic electron beam in a magnetized plasma column is described using numerical analysis and particle-in-cell simulation. A rotating electron beam propagating through a cylindrical plasma column excites plasma wakefields. The plasma wakefields couple with the electron beam to excite transverse currents at THz frequency. As a result, the energy of the wakefield directly converts into the form of electromagnetic radiation in the THz range. The magnetic field supports the transverse modes via electron cyclotron resonance. The strength of the THz field is enhanced due to scattering of the spiralling electron beam on the plasma density perturbation. The THz field amplitude is controllable by the electron beam velocity and beam density. On increasing the beam current, the THz field is enhanced significantly. The analytical results are compared with particle-in-cell simulations and are found to be in reasonable agreement.