Terahertz Generation by Optical Rectification in Sugar Crystal

We report on THz pulse generation through optical rectification of femtosecond laser pulses in sugar crystals. The sugar crystals were grown from an aqueous solution of caster cane sugar bought in a local grocery. Sugar exhibits rather good nonlinear coefficients ( d 23 ≃ 56 pm/V), but the optical-THz conversion efficiency remains quite weak because of the lack of phase-matching, when pumped by a laser beam of 0.8-μm central wavelength. Nevertheless, sugar availability at a low price makes it a relevant material for trial experiments.