Terahertz wave detection by the Stark effect in nonlinear optical polymers

We report on terahertz (THz) wave detection by the Stark effect in nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers, which is a type of NLO effect in a resonant condition. We compare THz wave detection by the Stark effect in NLO polymers with that by the EO sampling technique using ZnTe crystals. The differences in the optical geometry and the detection bandwidth between both techniques are also discussed. One of the advantages of THz wave detection by the Stark effect is the wide bandwidth accompanied by gapless in the THz frequency region. Utilizing the Stark effect in NLO polymers provides us with a wide variety of applications for electromagnetic wave detection.