Citation
Cossel, Kevin (2007) Laser Offset Stabilization for Broadly Tunable TeraHertz (THz) Frequency Generation. Senior thesis (Major), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/S7V2-JJ56. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:02132018-104318011
Abstract
Spectroscopy and imaging in the terahertz region promises to be useful for a wide variety of applications. For remote sensing, terahertz spectroscopy could help in the identification of explosives and narcotics. In astronomy, terahertz imaging should provide new information about the composition of the interstellar medium and about the processes by which stars and planets are born. In chemistry and molecular biology, terahertz spectroscopy provides new rotational or rovibrational spectra of molecules and is useful in the study of hydrogen-bound clusters that serve as model systems for the quantitative understanding of the intermolecular forces involved in (bio )polymers and aqueous media. However, there are currently no terahertz sources that are easily tunable over the full region with high precision and accuracy. Here, we discuss the development of a novel three-laser source that allows for accurate stabilization of the difference frequency between two diode lasers to any frequency up to several terahertz, while still maintaining a long-term linewidth of under 10 MHz. When coupled with new traveling-wave photomixers, we will have a narrow linewidth, broadband terahertz source with high accuracy and capable of delivering up to tens of microwatts of power.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Senior thesis (Major)) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject Keywords: | Chemistry and Physics | ||||
| Degree Grantor: | California Institute of Technology | ||||
| Division: | Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy | ||||
| Major Option: | Chemistry Physics | ||||
| Awards: | D.S. Kothari Prize in Physics, 2007. Upper Class Merit Prize (Rosalind W. Alcott Merit Scholarship, Carnation Scholarship, and John Stauffer Merit Scholarship), 2006-2007. | ||||
| Thesis Availability: | Not set | ||||
| Research Advisor(s): |
| ||||
| Group: | Astronomy Department | ||||
| Thesis Committee: |
| ||||
| Defense Date: | 2007 | ||||
| Record Number: | CaltechTHESIS:02132018-104318011 | ||||
| Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:02132018-104318011 | ||||
| DOI: | 10.7907/S7V2-JJ56 | ||||
| ORCID: |
| ||||
| Default Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. | ||||
| ID Code: | 10701 | ||||
| Collection: | CaltechTHESIS | ||||
| Deposited By: | Joy Painter | ||||
| Deposited On: | 13 Feb 2018 23:53 | ||||
| Last Modified: | 08 Nov 2023 00:16 |
Full text not available from this repository.
Repository Staff Only: item control page
