Generation of ultra-short THz pulses in new optical nonlinear materials based on organic polymers

Using the method of optical rectification of femtosecond laser pulses, we report the generation of short (a few field cycles) terahertz pulses in the samples of films based on polyimides with covalently bound chromophore molecules of DR type. The spectral width of the produced pulses is limited by the pump pulse duration. The quadratic nonlinear optical properties are imparted to the films in the process of their fabrication by orienting the chromophore molecules in the external electric field of the applied electrodes having an original configuration. The samples are compared with the ZnTe crystal. Using the methods of coherent spectroscopy, their transmission and refractive index dispersion spectra are investigated in the frequency range 0.5 – 2.6 THz. The studied polymer composition is promising for the application in coherent spectrometers both for increasing the working spectral range without dips and for improving the spatial resolution in the near-field terahertz spectroscopy.