GOALS
The THz FWM is a general nonlinear optical process in a nonzero χ3 medium and therefore plasma is not a necessary prerequisite for the process. An equivalent scheme should be applicable to distinct solid-state media with nonzero χ3 while there is little information on the case at the present time. Although the plasma approach is lacking any damage threshold, thereby providing free scaling of the technique, there is a little control of the parameters plus the approach requires the use of amplified ultrafast pulses. One of the main goals of the project is therefore identification of suitable phase-matching methods and ways of controling the material and optical/nonlinear optical parameters.
