Theoretical Exploration of Terahertz Single-Photon Detection and Imaging by Nonlinear Optical Frequency Up-Conversion

Terahertz single-photon detection and imaging have attracted full attention recently. Nonlinear optical frequency up-conversion is a promising technique that can be expected to satisfy this demand thanks to its high sensitivity and fast response. In this paper, theoretical analysis and numerical calculations based on the organic salt 4′-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate (DAST) crystal were performed to show that the optimization of the detection of terahertz is different from that of the generation of terahertz, including the use of difference-frequency generation (DFG) technique, the larger thickness of the crystal, and especially the selection of the polarization direction of the pumping laser. For two different polarization configurations, the photons of the up-converted signal light both can be amplified compared with the number of incident terahertz photons under some optimal designs of the nonlinear frequency conversion process. Therefore, terahertz single-photon detection can be realized with single-photon detectors (SPDs) or even possibly with ordinary avalanche photodiodes (APDs). Furthermore, for terahertz single-photon imaging, the frequency up-conversion with the pumping laser polarized along b-axis of DAST crystal has a better performance, which is rarely used in terahertz generation.