Terahertz (THz) wave generation from bulk and periodically poled $LiTaO_3$ (PPLT) with a Cherenkov phase matching scheme is numerically investigated. It is shown that by using the crystal birefringence of bulk $LiTaO_3$ and a grating vector of PPLT, THz waves can be efficiently generated by difference frequency generation (DFG) with a Cherenkov phase matching scheme. The frequency tuning characteristics of the THz wave via varying wavelength of difference frequency waves, phase matching angle, poling period of PPLT and working temperature are theoretically analyzed. The parametric gain coefficient in the low-loss limit and the absorption coefficient of the THz wave during the DFG process in the vicinity of polariton resonances are numerically analyzed. A THz wave can be efficiently generated by utilizing the giant second order nonlinearities of $LiTaO_3$ in the vicinity of polariton resonances.

Keywords: Terahertz wave, Difference frequency generation, Cherenkov phase matching,

OCIS codes: 190.4410; 140.3070