Direct visualization of terahertz electromagnetic waves in classic experimental geometries
Name
Nelson_Direct visualization.pdf
Size
5.1 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
d36b05091e179939979a46ba40a62696
Author(s)
Werley, Christopher Alan
Nelson, Keith Adam
Tait, C. Ryan
Date Issued
2012
Journal
American Journal of Physics
Publisher
American Association of Physics Teachers
Citation
Werley, Christopher A., Keith A. Nelson, and C. Ryan Tait. “Direct visualization of terahertz electromagnetic waves in classic experimental geometries.” American Journal of Physics 80, no. 1 (2012): 72.© 2012 American Association of Physics Teachers.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
We used newly developed experimental methods to collect educational video clips of electromagnetic waves propagating at the speed of light. The terahertz frequency waves were generated and detected in LiNbO3 crystals structured to reproduce classic optical geometries and experiments, such as two-slit interference and diffraction from a grating. Direct visualization of the phase fronts as the electromagnetic pulses propagate, reflect, diffract, and interfere helps develop intuition and understanding about the fundamental behavior of light and waves. We believe these videos will be a valuable addition to lectures on introductory optics and physics, because they bring contemporary research to the classroom and provide clear and direct experimental demonstrations of light and wave behavior.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3652698
