Fiber-integrated terahertz generation for spectroscopy of quantum materials

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy provides unique access to fundamental excitations in quantum materials. Typically, the THz response of these materials is measured in a cryogenic environment, so that the characteristic quantum behavior can be observed. However, the difficulty of focusing THz radiation from free space on the typical micron-scale samples of interest limits the ability to measure these excitations. We study THz emission from Van der Waals materials as a strategy to enhance detection sensitivity and expand accessible measurement geometries. By investigating alternative generation mechanisms and their integration with electro-optic sampling techniques, we aim to improve signal strength and enable more robust and reproducible THz measurements. These approaches offer a pathway toward sensitive spectroscopy of small, cryogenically integrated systems.