Efficient optical-to-terahertz conversion in large-area InGaAs photo-Dember emitters with increased indium content.

In this Letter, optical-to-terahertz (THz) conversion of 800 nm femtosecond laser pulses in large-area bias-free InGaAs emitters based on photo-Dember (PD) and lateral photo-Dember (LPD) effects is experimentally investigated. We use metamorphic buffers to grow sub-micrometer thick InxGa1-xAs layers with indium mole fractions x=0.37, 0.53, and 0.70 on a GaAs substrate. A strong enhancement of THz output energy with an increase of indium content is observed. On the surface of the sample providing the strongest emission (x=0.7), we have fabricated a 1.5cm2 area of asymmetrically shaped metallic grating for LPD emission. This LPD emitter allows achieving high conversion efficiency of 0.24⋅10-3 and a broad generation bandwidth of up to 6 THz. We also demonstrate that there is no significant difference in the conversion efficiency when operating at 1 and 200 kHz repetition rates. Our results show that large-area LPD emitters give a convenient, competitive way to generate intense high-repetition-rate THz pulses.

Electro-optic sampling of terahertz waves by laser pulses with an edge-cut spectrum in birefringent crystal.

We demonstrate a terahertz detection technique based on variations of the energy of femtosecond laser pulses with an edge-cut spectrum in birefringent electro-optic crystal-periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). The method is compared with the standard electro-optic detection scheme utilizing GaP crystal. The experimental results show that the studied technique is suited for use with birefringent crystals and allows one to achieve a much better response to the terahertz wave radiation at quasi-phase-matching frequencies of PPLN.

Terahertz radiation from bismuth surface induced by femtosecond laser pulses.

We report on the first experimental observation of terahertz (THz) wave generation from bismuth mono- and polycrystalline samples irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses. Dependencies of the THz signal on the crystal orientation, optical pulse energy, incidence angle, and polarization are presented and discussed together with features of the sample surfaces. The optical-to-THz conversion efficiency was up to two orders of magnitude higher than for metal at a moderate fluence of ∼1 mJ/cm2. We also found nonlinear effects not previously observed using other metal and semiconductor materials: (a) asymmetry of THz response with respect to a half-turn of a sample around its normal, (b) THz polarization control by orientation of the sample surface, and

Terahertz time-domain electro-optic measurements by femtosecond laser pulses with an edge-cut spectrum.

Balanced electro-optic detection techniques of terahertz wave radiation are proposed based on variations of the energy and ellipticity of laser pulses with an edge-cut spectrum. The techniques are compared with the standard electro-optic detection scheme utilizing laser pulses with Gaussian spectrum shape. Our calculations and measurements show that the studied schemes have a much better response to the terahertz wave radiation at high frequencies compared with the standard one.

Terahertz emission from a metallic surface induced by a femtosecond optic pulse.

Results of experimental and theoretical investigations on generation of terahertz radiation at the interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with a metal surface are presented. Investigations are performed with the laser pulse intensities higher compared with that used in papers [Opt. Lett.29, 2674 (2004); Opt. Lett.30, 1402 (2005)]. The most effective generation is observed for p-polarized optical pulses with incidence angles in the range 5°-10° (from the surface), depending on the kind of metal. For the copper, the exponential growth of terahertz pulse energy with the increase of optical pulse energy was registered. Theoretical interpretation for some of the experimental results is proposed based on the model of free electrons in metal.

Highly efficient optical-to-terahertz conversion in a sandwich structure with LiNbO3 core.

We demonstrate experimentally the efficiency of a recently proposed scheme of terahertz generation based on Cherenkov emission from ultrashort laser pulses in a sandwich structure. The structure has a thin nonlinear core covered with a prism of low terahertz absorption. Using an 8 mm long Si-LiNbO(3)-BK7 structure with a 50 microm thick LiNbO(3) core, we converted 40 microJ, 50 fs Ti:sapphire laser pulses into terahertz pulses of approximately 3 THz bandwidth with a record efficiency of over 0.1%.

[Affinity chromatography for purification of phospholipase A2 from the venom of Central Asian cobra]. / Affinnaia khromatografiia dlia ochistki fosfolipazy A2 iada sredneaziatskoi kobry.

A method of affinity chromatography was developed for purification of phospholipase A2(PL-A2) from the Central Asian cobra venon. The enzyme was covalently coupled to a polyamide sorbent with phosphatidilethanolamine (PEA) and cytotoxin (CT). The effect of CA2+ concentration and the ion strength of the solution on the enzyme adsorption was studied. The most efficient coupling of the enzyme to the sorbent was observed at pH 8--9 in case of the Ca2+ absence and a low ion strength of the solution. For desorption of the enzyme Triton X-100 at a concentration of 0.5% should be introduced in the eluting solution. The affinity adsorption chromatography enabled the isolation of two forms of phospholipase A2 with different affinity for PEA and CT. The total yield of the enzyme was 91% at a purification degree of 5.5 and 3.5, respectively. The introduction of the second ligand (CT) in the composition of the sorbent with the phospholipid ligand allowed the authors to increase its capacity and affinity for the phospholipase A2 from the snake venom.

[Immobilization of phospholipase A2 from Central Asian cobra venom on polyamide sorbents]. / Immobilizatsiia fosfolipazy A2 iada sredneaziatskoi kobry na sorbentakh poliamidnoi prirody.

The effect of the immobilization technique and the ligand nature on catalytic properties of phospholipase A2 from the cobra venom was studied. Preparations of phospholipase A2 adsorbed on and covalently bound to polyamide sorbents were obtained. The enzyme was coupled to polyamide beads modified with glutaraldehyde. In this case only 9% of the enzyme activity was retained. The enzyme adsorbed on polyamide modified with phosphatidylethanolamine retained up to 20% of the initial activity. The binding selectivity of phospholipase A2 was maximum in case of the sorbent with a binary ligand, e. g. phosphatidylethanolamine+cytotoxin, the sorbent capacity for the bound enzyme increased 2-3 times (460-600 units/g sorbent. The specific activity of the adsorbed phospholipase A2 was 17-40 units/g sorbent in contrast to 8.6 units/g sorbent for the covalently bound enzyme. Immobilization of the enzyme on polyamide sorbents resulted in changes of the pH-optimum, sensitivity to Ca2+ ions and the character of the enzyme-substrate interactions. Heart stability of the adsorbed phospholipase A2 was lower than that of the covalently bound enzyme. However, the adsorbed enzyme can be used, for example, in affinity chromatography due to its higher specific activity, selectivity and reversibility of the sorption.

[Biospecific adsorption chromatography of phospholipase A2 from different sources]. / Biospetsificheskaia adsorbtsionnaia khromatografiia fosfolipazy A2 iz razlichnykh istochnikov.

Methods of biospecific adsorption chromatography of phospholipase A2 obtained from porcine pancreas and Naja naja oxiana, Vipera ursini renardi, Vespa orientalis venoms were developed. Granulated polyamide with covalently linked phosphatidylethanolamine were used as an affinity adsorbent. Chemical inertness of linked phosphatidylethanolamine to the hydrolytic action of phospholipase A2 and its high affinity for biospecific complexes are shown. Forms of phospholipase A2 different in their affinity for an immobilized substrate was isolated by biospecific adsorption chromatography. The role of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions in formation of enzyme-ligand complexes was studied.