THz science and technology (lead by P. Kužel)

We use an optoelectronic approach to the generation and detection of broadband THz pulses which makes use of ultrashort optical pulses and of their frequency conversion into the THz range. This technique is called the time domain THz spectroscopy and it is able to measure complex dielectric and conductivity spectra of various kinds of samples in a spectral range of 5 to 80 cm^-1. In addition, the use of laser pulses for the THz generation makes it possible to perform so called pump–probe experiments where the sample is first excited by an optical (UV, VIS, IR) pulse and, subsequently, it is probed by a delayed THz pulse. This technique allows us to access the far-infrared fingerprints of the ultrafast dynamics on sub-picosecond to nanosecond time scales.

(More about this group)

Equipment

• Ultrafast lasers and amplifiers
  (contact: P. Kužel, ext. 2176, room 54 and 63)
  • MIRA seed femtosecond oscillator (Coherent)
  • VITESSE femtosecond oscillator (Coherent)
  • Regererative amplifier Spitfire ACE (35 fs, 5 W) seeded by MaiTai SP (Spectra Physics / Newport)
  • TOPAS parametric amplifier (Light conversion)
• Custom-made THz time-domain spectrometer placed in a vacuum chamber; suitable for optical pump – THz probe experiments
  (contact: P. Kužel, ext. 2176, room 54)
• Cryostat and furnace with suitable windows accepting both optical and THz beams (available temperature range: 10–900 K)
  (contact: C. Kadlec, ext. 2122, room 54)
• Custom-made THz near-field spectrometer
  (contact: F. Kadlec, ext. 2176, room 63)
• Helium bath cryostat with superconducting magnet coil, temperature range 2 – 300 K, magnetic field up to 7 T, available for THz experiments
  (contact: F. Kadlec, ext. 2176, room 63)