DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EMITTING TERAHELTZ LIGHT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for emitting light in a teraheltz range which has high light power efficiency. SOLUTION: The device has a difference frequency generating device 6 which has a single-crystal optical waveguide 7 and a pump light control means 8 which makes first pump light 9 and second pump light 10 incident on the optical waveguide 7. The difference frequency generating device 6 has an incidence end surface 21, a light-exiting end surface 22 facing the incidence surface 21, and the optical waveguide 7 which is positioned between the incidence end surface 21 and light-exiting end surface 22 and extends along a specific crystal azimuth. The pump light control means 8 makes both the first pump light 9 of first frequency and the second pump light 10 of second frequency incident on the incidence end surface 21 as light beams parallel to the crystal azimuth. Consequently, coherent difference frequency light 11 of 1 to 11 THz which has frequency equal to the difference between the first and second frequencies is guided out of the light-exiting end surface 22.