Terahertz wave generation device, light source device, camera, imaging device, and measurement device

A terahertz wave generation device comprising:

• a light source device emitting an optical pulse;
• and
• an antenna irradiated with the optical pulse emitted from the light source and responsively generating a terahertz wave,
• wherein the light source device includes:
• an optical pulse generation unit generating the optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the optical pulse generation unit and the first pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse emitted from the optical pulse generation unit.

A light source device comprising:

• an optical pulse generation unit generating an optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the first pulse compression unit and the second pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse emitted from the first pulse compression unit.

A light source device comprising:

• an optical pulse generation unit generating an optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the optical pulse generation unit and the first pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse generated from the optical pulse generation unit.

A camera comprising:

• a terahertz wave generation device emitting a terahertz wave;
• and
• a terahertz wave detection device detecting the terahertz wave that is emitted from the terahertz wave generation device and penetrates or is reflected from an object,
• wherein the terahertz wave generation device includes:
• a light source device emitting an optical pulse;
• and
• an antenna irradiated with the optical pulse emitted from the light source and responsively generating a terahertz wave,
• wherein the light source device has:
• an optical pulse generation unit generating the optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the first pulse compression unit and the second pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse emitted from the first pulse compression unit.

A camera comprising:

• a terahertz wave generation device emitting a terahertz wave;
• and
• a terahertz wave detection device detecting the terahertz wave that is emitted from the terahertz wave generation device and penetrates or is reflected from an object,
• wherein the terahertz wave generation device includes:
• a light source device emitting an optical pulse;
• and
• an antenna irradiated with the optical pulse emitted from the light source and responsively generating a terahertz wave,
• wherein the light source device has:
• an optical pulse generation unit generating the optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the optical pulse generation unit and the first pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse generated from the optical pulse generation unit.

An imaging device comprising:

• a terahertz wave generation device emitting a terahertz wave;
• a terahertz wave detection device detecting the terahertz wave that is emitted from the terahertz wave generation device and penetrates or is reflected from an object;
• and
• an image generation unit generating an image of the object based on the result of the detection performed by the terahertz wave detection device,
• wherein the terahertz wave generation device includes:
• a light source device emitting an optical pulse;
• and
• an antenna irradiated with the optical pulse emitted from the light source and responsively generating a terahertz wave,
• wherein the light source device has:
• an optical pulse generation unit generating the optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the first pulse compression unit and the second pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse emitted from the first pulse compression unit.

An imaging device comprising:

• a terahertz wave generation device emitting a terahertz wave;
• a terahertz wave detection device detecting the terahertz wave that is emitted from the terahertz wave generation device and penetrates or is reflected from an object;
• and
• an image generation unit generating an image of the object based on the result of the detection performed by the terahertz wave detection device,
• wherein the terahertz wave generation device includes:
• a light source device emitting an optical pulse;
• and
• an antenna irradiated with the optical pulse emitted from the light source and responsively generating a terahertz wave,
• wherein the light source device has:
• an optical pulse generation unit generating the optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the optical pulse generation unit and the first pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse generated from the optical pulse generation unit.

A measurement device comprising:

• a terahertz wave generation device emitting a terahertz wave;
• a terahertz wave detection device detecting the terahertz wave that is emitted from the terahertz wave generation device and penetrates or is reflected from an object;
• and
• a measurement unit measuring the object based on the result of the detection performed by the terahertz wave detection device,
• wherein the terahertz wave generation device includes:
• a light source device emitting an optical pulse;
• and
• an antenna irradiated with the optical pulse emitted from the light source and responsively generating a terahertz wave,
• wherein the light source device has:
• an optical pulse generation unit generating the optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the first pulse compression unit and the second pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse emitted from the first pulse compression unit.

A measurement device comprising:

• a terahertz wave generation device emitting a terahertz wave;
• a terahertz wave detection device detecting the terahertz wave that is emitted from the terahertz wave generation device and penetrates or is reflected from an object;
• and
• a measurement unit measuring the object based on the result of the detection performed by the terahertz wave detection device,
• wherein the terahertz wave generation device includes:
• a light source device emitting an optical pulse;
• and
• an antenna irradiated with the optical pulse emitted from the light source and responsively generating a terahertz wave,
• wherein the light source device has:
• an optical pulse generation unit generating the optical pulse;
• a first pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with saturable absorbers on the optical pulse generated by the optical pulse generation unit;
• a second pulse compression unit performing pulse compression with group velocity dispersion compensation on the optical pulse already compressed by the first pulse compression unit;
• and
• an amplifying unit installed between the optical pulse generation unit and the first pulse compression unit to amplify the optical pulse generated from the optical pulse generation unit.