Researcher(s)
- Owen Shullaw, , Purdue University
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Matthew Doty, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
Research in the applications of terahertz radiation has increased drastically over the past decade due to its capabilities to provide safer and more efficient alternatives to practical processes such as medical imaging, security screening, and data transmission. Here, we use an optical system that allows us to characterize materials’ abilities to emit and detect terahertz radiation. The Time-Domain Terahertz Spectroscopy (TDTS) system houses a Toptica FemtoFiber Pro NIR Pump Laser which can emit beams at 780 nm or 1550 nm simultaneously. Using a delay stage, sample, and an intricate optical setup, we can utilize the system to gather the terahertz radiation emission – and its magnetic and electrical properties – as a function of time. More specifically, this work deals with a hybrid spintronic sample. A III-V side of the sample is excited by the 780 nm beam, and a hybrid material side of the sample on the opposite side of a GaAs substrate is excited by the 1550 nm beam. So far, we’ve gathered that this hybrid sample is effective at emitting terahertz radiation, and that there are interesting properties in the gathered emission data when the radiation from both samples is detected at the same time, such as constructive and destructive interference when the applied magnetic field to the system is altered. Alongside this work, planning on developing a new layout for the TDTS has occurred to further improve the consistency and efficiency of data collection.