Generation of high average power 1 kHz shaped THz pulses via optical rectification

Generation of near single-cycle THz pulses from lithium niobate with 3.3 μJ energy, 3.3 mW average power, 1.2 THz central frequency and 4 MW peak power was demonstrated by tilting the intensity front of the pump pulses from a 1 kHz Ti:sapphire laser. THz pulse intensity as high as 200 MW/cm2 was achieved. The energy conversion efficiency was 7 × 10−4. The capability of the present scheme to generate high energy shaped THz pulses was also demonstrated by using a sequence of optical pump pulses.