Terahertz radiation generation by beating of two spatial-Gaussian lasers in the presence of a static magnetic field.

Resonant excitation of terahertz (THz) radiation based on beating of two spatial-Gaussian lasers having different frequencies and wave numbers but the same electric field amplitudes is proposed in a spatially periodic density plasma in the presence of a static magnetic field applied perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the lasers. In this process, the ponderomotive force is developed with its components parallel and perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the lasers. This leads to a nonlinear oscillatory current that resonantly excites the THz radiation with the frequency of the order of the upper hybrid frequency. The contribution of magnetic field, laser beamwidth, and amplitude and periodicity of the density ripples is discussed for the efficient THz radiation generation. With the optimization of these parameters, the efficiency on the order of 10(-3) or larger can be achieved in the present scheme.