Single-cycle terahertz (THz) transients in the frequency range 0.3-7 THz with electric-field amplitudes of more than 400 kV/cm are generated by four-wave mixing of the fundamental and the second harmonic of 25 fs pulses from a Ti:sapphire amplifier in ionized air. These transients are fully characterized by electro-optic sampling with ZnTe and GaP crystals. One can tune the center frequency of the THz transients by varying the length of the incident pulse. The electric-field amplitude increases linearly with the incident pulse energy.

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In this paper techniques for the generation and measurement of ultrashort pulses in the frequency range from about 0.1 to 10 THz are reviewed. The methods for generation are restricted to table-top systems based on short-pulse lasers in the visible or in the near-infrared. Three techniques are dealt with in detail: photoconductive switches, difference frequency generation and plasma sources. Definitions and methods to measure the pulse width are given, among them cross-correlation and measurements of the electric field of these pulses as a function of time by photoconductive switches and electro-optic sampling.

We present a combined theoretical and experimental study of spatiotemporal propagation effects in terahertz (THz) generation in gases using two-color ionizing laser pulses. The observed strong broadening of the THz spectra with increasing gas pressure reveals the prominent role of spatiotemporal reshaping and of a plasma-induced blueshift of the pump pulses in the generation process. Results obtained from (3+1)-dimensional simulations are in good agreement with experimental findings and clarify the mechanisms responsible for THz emission.

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