JP2006098294A - Infra-red ray emitter, time series conversion pulse spectrometric measuring instrument, and infra-red ray emission method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an infrared ray emitter capable of polarizing an emission ray by simple constitution without accompanying a loss of the emission ray. <P>SOLUTION: This infrared ray emitter is provided with a photoconductive membrane 22 for generating a photocarrier with irradiation of pulsated excitation light, a pair of first antenna electrode film 21a formed on the photoconductive membrane 22 via a clearance 32 to emit an infrared ray, a pair of second antenna electrode film 21b having an angle with respect to the first antenna electrode film 21a, and formed on the photoconductive membrane 22 via the clearance 32 to emit an infrared ray, and a control part for impressing independently voltages respectively to the the first antenna electrode film 21a and the second antenna electrode film 21b. The voltage impressed to the the first antenna electrode film 21a and the voltage impressed to the second antenna electrode film 21b may be selectively impressed respectively at different times, or may be impressed at different phases at the same time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an infrared light emitting device, a time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measuring device, and an infrared light emitting method.

  In recent years, radiation technology and detection technology for electromagnetic waves in a pulsed coherent infrared region (0.01 to 130 THz) have been remarkably advanced by the practical application of ultrashort pulse laser technology. As a result, time-series conversion pulse spectroscopy using this pulsed infrared electromagnetic wave has become possible, and development has been pioneered toward the practical application of the time-series conversion pulse spectrometer.

  Time-series conversion pulse spectroscopy is the measurement of the time-dependent electric field strength of a pulsed electromagnetic wave, and the time-dependent data (time-series data) is subjected to Fourier transform, whereby each frequency component forming the pulse is measured. This is a spectroscopic method for obtaining electric field strength and phase. One of the features of this spectroscopic method is that the measurement wavelength region is a boundary region between light and radio waves, which has been difficult in the past. Therefore, elucidation of the properties of new materials and new phenomena is expected by this spectroscopy. In addition, in the conventional spectroscopy, only the electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave was obtained, but in this time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measurement method, since the time change of the electric field strength of the electromagnetic wave is directly measured, only the electric field strength (amplitude) of the electromagnetic wave is obtained. Not only that, it has the unique feature of being able to obtain its phase. Therefore, a phase shift spectrum can be obtained by comparing with the case where there is no sample. Since the phase shift is proportional to the wave vector, the dispersion relation in the sample can be determined using this spectroscopy, and the dielectric constant of the dielectric material can be obtained from this dispersion relation (Patent Document). 1).

FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional time-series conversion pulse spectrometer.
A femtosecond laser is used as the light source 1. As the light source 1, for example, a mode-locked, erbium (Er) -doped fiber laser is used. The mode-locked fiber laser 1 transmits, for example, an average power of 10 mW, a femtosecond laser pulse L1 at a wavelength of 780 nm, a time width of 120 femtoseconds, and a repetition frequency of 48.5 MHz.
The femtosecond laser pulse L 1 emitted from the light source 1 is divided by the beam splitter 2. One femtosecond laser pulse is applied to the pulsed light radiation means (infrared light radiation device) 5 as the excitation pulsed laser light L2. At this time, the excitation pulse laser beam L2 is modulated by the optical chopper 3 and then condensed by the objective lens 4. The pulsed light radiating means 5 is, for example, a photoconductive element, and when the excitation pulse laser light L2 is irradiated, a current flows instantaneously and radiates a far-infrared light pulse L3. The far-infrared light pulse (THz (terahertz) light pulse) L3 is guided by the parabolic mirrors 6 and 7 and irradiated onto the measurement sample 8. The reflected or transmitted pulsed light (transmitted pulsed light in the figure) L3 ′ of the sample 8 is guided to the detecting means 12 via the parabolic mirrors 9 and 10.

  The other laser beam split by the beam splitter 2 is guided to the detection means 12 as a detection pulse laser beam L4. This detection means 12 is also a photoconductive element, and is irradiated with the detection pulse laser beam L4 and becomes conductive only at that moment. Therefore, the electric field intensity of the reflected or transmitted pulsed light from the sample 8 that has reached that moment is determined as a current. Can be detected as The time-series signal of the electric field intensity of the reflected or transmitted pulsed light from the sample 8 is transmitted to the detection pulse laser light L4 for a predetermined time with respect to the excitation pulse laser light L2 using the optical delay means 13 (or 14). It can be obtained by giving a delay time difference at intervals. In the figure, in addition to the optical delay means 13 (or 14) for time series signal measurement, an optical delay means 14 (or 13) for time origin adjustment is also provided.

  Each time-resolved data of the electric field intensity of the reflected or transmitted pulsed light of the sample 8 is processed by the signal processing means. That is, it is transmitted to the computer 17 via the lock-in amplifier 16 and is sequentially stored as time-series data, and the series of time-series data is subjected to Fourier transform processing by the computer 17 and converted to a frequency (frequency) space. Thus, the spectrum of the amplitude and phase of the electric field strength of the reflected or transmitted pulse electromagnetic wave of the sample 8 is obtained.

  FIG. 4 shows the pulsed light radiation means 5. The pulsed light radiating means 5 uses a photoconductive switch element (antenna electrode film) having a dipole antenna structure formed on a photoconductive film made of low-temperature grown gallium arsenide (LT (Low Temperature) —GaAs). For generation of the terahertz radiation light L3, the pulsed light radiation means 5 is irradiated with the excitation pulse laser light L2, to induce free carriers of electrons and holes, and by performing ultra-high-speed current modulation, The terahertz radiation L3 is obtained. That is, when the excitation pulse laser beam L2 is applied to the pulsed light emitting means 5 to which the bias current is applied, the electric field is shaken. When the electric field is swayed, the current is swayed, so that the continuous sport distribution is distributed over the frequency (frequency) range defined by the time width Δt of the excitation pulse laser beam L2 irradiated to the pulsed electromagnetic wave radiation element 5. The terahertz radiation light L3 having

  The detection means 12 has the same configuration as the pulsed light radiation means 5 shown in FIG. When the detection means 12 is irradiated with the sample transmission terahertz light L3 'and the detection pulse laser light L4 at the same time, the intensity of the sample transmission terahertz light L3' during the irradiation of the detection pulse laser light L4 can be measured.

  FIG. 5 shows the antenna electrode film 21 formed on the photoconductive film 22 made of LT-GaAs. As the antenna electrode film 21, gold (Au) is used. A gap of about 5 μm is formed between the pair of antenna electrode films 21 as shown on the right side of FIG. The width of the antenna electrode film is about 10 μm.

  In order to perform polarization analysis using such a time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measurement device, a technique for obtaining a desired polarization by inserting a polarizer into an optical path is known (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-277394 A JP 2003-014620 A

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since only a pair of antenna electrodes is used (FIG. 5), the polarization of radiated terahertz light is always fixed in only one direction.
Further, as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, if a desired polarization component is obtained by inserting a polarizer into the optical path, a target polarization component can be obtained, but light of other components can be obtained. Will be lost without using it at all.
On the other hand, a method of rotating the pulsed light emitting means itself so as to rotate the polarization plane of the emitted terahertz light is also conceivable, but it is necessary to control the excitation laser pulse light so as to follow the rotating pulsed light emitting means. Furthermore, the processing of the cable for applying a voltage to the rotating pulsed light radiation means becomes a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an infrared light emitting device and time-series conversion pulse spectroscopy that enable polarization of emitted light with a simple configuration without loss of emitted light. It is an object of the present invention to provide a measuring device and an infrared light emission method.

In order to solve the above problems, the infrared light emitting apparatus, the time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measuring apparatus, and the infrared light emitting method of the present invention employ the following means.
That is, an infrared light emitting device according to the present invention is formed on a photoconductive film that is irradiated with pulsed excitation light to generate a photocarrier, and is disposed on the photoconductive film with a gap between its tips. A pair of first antenna electrode films that radiate infrared light, and a photoconductive film formed on the photoconductive film, with the gap between the tips and an angle with respect to the first antenna electrode film. A pair or a plurality of pairs of second antenna electrode films that radiate infrared light; and a controller that applies a voltage to each of the first antenna electrode film and the second antenna electrode film independently. It is characterized by.

  Since the second antenna electrode film having an angle different from that of the first antenna electrode film is provided and these electrode films are controlled independently by the control unit, the infrared light emitted from the first antenna electrode film is Infrared light having different polarization can be emitted from the second antenna electrode film.

  The control unit of the infrared light emitting device selectively switches between a voltage applied to the first antenna electrode film and a voltage applied to the second antenna electrode film.

  Since the voltage applied to each antenna electrode film is selectively switched, polarized light corresponding to the arrangement of each antenna electrode film can be selected at each desired time.

  The control unit of the infrared light radiating device applies voltages at different phases to the first antenna electrode film and the second antenna electrode film.

  Since voltages are applied at different phases to each antenna electrode film, circularly polarized light is possible. In other words, circularly polarized radiation can be obtained by applying, for example, a sine wave voltage to each antenna electrode film simultaneously and at different phases.

  In addition, a time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measurement device according to the present invention includes a light source that oscillates pulse excitation light and the infrared light radiation device described above.

  Since the infrared light emitting device is provided, it is possible to provide a time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measurement device capable of measuring an object to be measured depending on polarization.

  In addition, the infrared light emission method of the present invention emits infrared light that is formed on a photoconductive film that is irradiated with pulsed excitation light and generates a photocarrier, and is arranged with a gap between its tips. A red voltage is applied to the pair of first antenna electrode films, and is formed on the photoconductive film, and is disposed between the tips of the first antenna electrode films with the gap and at an angle with respect to the first antenna electrode film. A voltage is applied to a pair or a plurality of pairs of second antenna electrode films that radiate external light.

Since voltage is applied to the second antenna electrode film having an angle different from that of the first antenna electrode film, infrared light having a polarization different from that of the infrared light emitted from the first antenna electrode film is applied to the second antenna. It can radiate | emit from an electrode film.
The voltage applied to the first antenna electrode film and the voltage applied to the second antenna electrode film may be selectively applied at different times, or may be applied simultaneously at different phases. .

  According to the present invention, since the antenna electrode films disposed at different angles are provided, polarization of radiated light can be realized with no loss and a simple configuration.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a main part of a terahertz light emitting device (infrared light emitting device) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the terahertz light emitting device of the present embodiment is applied to the time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measurement device described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna electrode film 21 is formed on the photoconductive film 22 formed on the substrate by vapor deposition. The antenna electrode film 21 is made of gold (Au). The photoconductive film 22 is formed of low-temperature grown gallium arsenide (LT-GaAs).
The pair of first antenna electrode films 21a are provided at the left and right positions in the figure, and the pair of second antenna electrode films 21b are provided at the upper and lower positions in the figure. In other words, the orientations of the first antenna electrode film 21a and the second antenna electrode film 21b are provided so as to be approximately 90 ° different from each other (substantially orthogonal) in plan view.
At the base end portion of each antenna electrode film 21, a power feeding portion 30 connected to a lead wire (not shown) is provided. At the tip of each antenna electrode film 21, an antenna part 34 is provided that is positioned with a gap 32 between the tip of the antenna electrode film facing each other. Note that the pattern of the antenna electrode film 21 is appropriately determined according to the frequency band of the radiated terahertz light.
The gap 32 is shared by the first antenna electrode film 21a and the second antenna electrode film 21b. In other words, the gap between the first antenna electrode film 21a and the gap between the second antenna electrode films 21b are common.
Although not shown, a control unit is provided for applying a voltage independently to the first antenna electrode film and the second antenna electrode film. The control unit has a function of controlling a voltage application timing and a voltage waveform.

The terahertz light emitting device having the above configuration is used as follows.
First, the controller applies a voltage only to the first antenna electrode film 21a over a predetermined time interval. In this case, no voltage is applied to the second antenna electrode film 21b. In this state, the antenna electrode film 21 is irradiated with the excitation pulse laser beam L2 (see FIG. 3). Then, since the voltage is applied only to the first antenna electrode film 21a, it is possible to obtain only fixed polarized light according to the arrangement of the first antenna electrode film 21a.

Next, the controller applies a voltage only to the second antenna electrode film 21b over a predetermined time interval. In this case, no voltage is applied to the first antenna electrode film 21a. In this state, the antenna electrode film 21 is irradiated with the excitation pulse laser beam L2 (see FIG. 3). Then, it is possible to obtain only fixed polarized light according to the arrangement of the second antenna electrode film 21b.
Thus, since the voltage applied to the antenna electrode films 21a and 21b is selectively switched by the control unit, different polarized lights corresponding to the arrangement of the antenna electrode films 21a and 21b can be obtained at different times. .

Furthermore, the terahertz light emitting device of the present embodiment can also be used as follows.
The controller applies voltages to the first antenna electrode film 21a and the second antenna electrode film 21b simultaneously and at different phases. Specifically, a sine wave voltage is applied to the first antenna electrode film 21a, and sine waves having the same amplitude and period but different phases are applied to the second antenna electrode film 21b. In this state, the antenna electrode film 21 is irradiated with the excitation pulse laser beam L2 (see FIG. 3). As a result, circularly polarized terahertz light is emitted.
Further, if not only the phase of the sinusoidal voltage applied to the second antenna electrode film 21b but also the amplitude is varied, terahertz light having elliptical polarization is emitted.
With such use, for example, a circular dichroism detector can be measured.

As described above, according to the terahertz light emitting device of this embodiment, the antenna electrode films 21 of each pair are arranged at different angles, so that the terahertz light emitting device itself is not rotated. Further, it is possible to emit terahertz light having an arbitrary polarization plane without disposing the polarizing element in the optical path.
Therefore, the polarization of the radiated light can be realized with a simple configuration without any loss of the radiated light.

In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the number of antenna electrode pairs is two has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, three antenna electrode pairs having different angles may be provided. In this way, it becomes possible to control the polarization in more detail.
In the present embodiment, the terahertz light emitting device applied to the time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measurement device has been described. However, the infrared light emitting device of the present invention is not limited to this, and is used for other purposes. You can also.

It is the top view which showed the pattern of the antenna electrode film of this invention. It is the top view which showed the modification of the pattern of the antenna electrode film of this invention. It is the figure which showed the outline of the time series conversion pulse spectroscopy measuring device. It is the perspective view which showed the pulse light emission means. It is the top view which showed the pattern of the conventional antenna electrode film.

Explanation of symbols

21 antenna electrode film 21a first antenna electrode film 21b second antenna electrode film 22 photoconductive film 32 gap

Claims (5)

A photoconductive film that is irradiated with pulsed excitation light to generate photocarriers;
A pair of first antenna electrode films that radiate infrared light, formed on the photoconductive film and disposed with a gap between the tips;
A pair or a plurality of pairs of second antennas for emitting infrared light, which are formed on the photoconductive film and disposed at an angle with respect to the first antenna electrode film through the gap between the tips. An electrode film;
A controller for applying a voltage independently to each of the first antenna electrode film and the second antenna electrode film;
An infrared light emitting device comprising: The infrared light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selectively switches between a voltage applied to the first antenna electrode film and a voltage applied to the second antenna electrode film. . 2. The infrared light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit applies voltages at different phases to the first antenna electrode film and the second antenna electrode film. A light source that oscillates pulsed excitation light;
The infrared light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A time-series conversion pulse spectroscopic measurement device comprising: A voltage is applied to a pair of first antenna electrode films that are formed on a photoconductive film that is irradiated with pulsed excitation light and generates photocarriers, and disposed between the tips of the photoconductive film to emit infrared light. ,
A pair or a plurality of pairs of second antennas for emitting infrared light, which are formed on the photoconductive film and disposed at an angle with respect to the first antenna electrode film through the gap between the tips. An infrared light radiation method, wherein a voltage is applied to an electrode film.

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