A new THz-pump/second harmonic probe experimental setup: Characterizations and first results

A new source of high-power broadband THz radiation has been built in Naples, Italy. The source is based on twocolours mixing of ultrashort femtosecond light pulses. The source can deliver THz frequencies in the range 0.1-30 THz, with pulses of sub-picosecond time duration and having a peak electric field amplitude as high as 1 MV/cm. A characterization of the source is given in this work together with an overview of the preliminary experiments of THzcontrolled excitations in solids.