Controlling the generation of THz radiation from metallic films using periodic microstructure

Abstract

We report on THz frequency generation via irradiation of microstructured semicontinuous silver films by femtosecond laser pulses. By patterning the film so as to produce an array of microstrips, we show that one can use periodic microstructure to control the way nanostructured metal films produce THz radiation when illuminated by femtosecond infrared laser pulses. A simple analytical model based on the field distribution arising from an array of THz dipole emitters is used to assess the experimental data, allowing us to explain some of the main features of the generated THz radiation patterns, including the strongly resonant features of the emission spectrum.