TY - JOUR

T1 - Precise and accurate control of the ellipticity of THz radiation using a photoconductive pixel array

AU - Mosley, C.D.W.

AU - Deveikis, J.

AU - Lloyd-Hughes, J.

PY - 2021/9/20

Y1 - 2021/9/20

N2 - Full control of the ellipticity of broadband pulses of THz radiation, from linear to left- or right-handed circular polarization, was demonstrated via a four-pixel photoconductive emitter with an integrated achromatic waveplate. Excellent polarization purity and accuracy were achieved, with Stokes parameters exceeding 97% for linear and circular polarization, via a robust scheme that corrected electrically for polarization changes caused by imperfect optical elements. Furthermore, to assess the speed and precision of measurements of the THz polarization, we introduced a figure of merit, the standard error after one second of measurement, found to be 0.047° for the polarization angle.

AB - Full control of the ellipticity of broadband pulses of THz radiation, from linear to left- or right-handed circular polarization, was demonstrated via a four-pixel photoconductive emitter with an integrated achromatic waveplate. Excellent polarization purity and accuracy were achieved, with Stokes parameters exceeding 97% for linear and circular polarization, via a robust scheme that corrected electrically for polarization changes caused by imperfect optical elements. Furthermore, to assess the speed and precision of measurements of the THz polarization, we introduced a figure of merit, the standard error after one second of measurement, found to be 0.047° for the polarization angle.

U2 - 10.1063/5.0064146

DO - 10.1063/5.0064146

M3 - Journal article

VL - 119

JO - Applied Physics Letters

JF - Applied Physics Letters

SN - 0003-6951

IS - 12

M1 - 121105

ER -