Design of an efficient terahertz wave source from a GaP waveguide embedded in a silicon slot waveguide

K. Saito; T. Tanabe; Y. Oyama

doi:10.2971/jeos.2015.15024

Journal of the European Optical Society - Rapid publications, Vol 10 (2015)

Design of an efficient terahertz wave source from a GaP waveguide embedded in a silicon slot waveguide

K. Saito, T. Tanabe, Y. Oyama

Abstract

Here, we propose an efficient scheme for terahertz (THz) wave generation on the basis of difference frequency mixing (DFM) using a GaP ridge waveguide embedded in a silicon slot waveguide. Phase matching in the DFM process, between the nonlinear polarisation wave induced by two near-infrared pumps and the generated THz wave in the low-refractive-index slot waveguide, was achieved by utilising the modal birefringence of the fundamental transverse electric- and transverse magnetic-like modes at telecom wavelengths in the GaP ridge waveguide. The effective cross-sectional area of the THz wave in the waveguide was small, 220 μm² at 2.26 THz, resulting in a photon conversion efficiency of 5.7x10^-2%. The THz output power approached the multi-W level using the proposed waveguide structure.

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