New Method Enhances Analysis of Terahertz Pulses

Recent advancements in the analysis of terahertz (THz) pulses have been made by researchers James Lloyd-Hughes and Nishtha Chopra. Their paper, titled "An accurate discrete Fourier transform to analyse the absolute phase of THz pulses," introduces a refined version of the discrete Fourier transform that aligns with the analytical continuous Fourier transform. This new approach allows for the quantitative examination of both the amplitude and phase of light pulses, addressing the phase ambiguity that often complicates traditional methods.

The authors present a phenomenological time-domain model that effectively reproduces a wide range of THz pulse types, including those generated by spintronic emitters, photoconductive antennas, optical rectification, and free electron lasers. They explore the effects of various parameters such as pulse envelope duration, carrier-envelope phase, and pulse arrival time on the resulting complex spectra.

This methodology is significant as it enhances the capabilities of time-domain spectroscopy, providing researchers with a more comprehensive toolkit to unlock the potential of phase information in their analyses. The findings could have implications for various applications in optics and photonics, potentially leading to improved technologies in imaging and communications.

The paper was submitted on September 3, 2024, and can be accessed through arXiv with the identifier arXiv:2409.01950.