Relativistically moving dielectric perturbations can be used to manipulate light in new and exciting ways beyond the capabilities of traditional nonlinear optics. Adiabatic interaction with the moving front modulates the wave simultaneously in both space and time, and manifests a front-induced transition in both wave vector and frequency yielding exotic effects including non-reciprocity and time-reversal. Here we introduce a technique called SLIPSTREAM, Spacetime Light-Induced Photonic STRucturEs for Advanced Manipulation, based on the creation of relativistic fronts in a semiconductor-filled planar waveguide by photoexcitation of mobile charge carriers. In this work, we demonstrate the capabilities of SLIPSTREAM for the manipulation of terahertz (THz) light pulses through relativistic front-induced transitions. In the sub-luminal front velocity regime, we generate temporally stretched THz waveforms, with a quasi-static field lasting for several picoseconds tunable with the front interaction distance. In the super-luminal regime, the carrier front outpaces the THz pulse and a time-reversal operation is performed via a front-induced intra-band transition. We anticipate our platform will be a versatile tool for future applications in the THz spectral band requiring direct and advanced control of light at the sub-cycle level.

相对论移动的介电扰动可用于以超出传统非线性光学能力的新的和令人兴奋的方式操纵光。与移动前沿的绝热相互作用在空间和时间上同时调制波，并在波矢量和频率中表现出前沿诱发的转变，产生包括非互易性和时间反转在内的奇异效应。在这里，我们介绍了一种称为 SLIPSTREAM 的技术，即用于高级操作的时空光诱导光子结构，该技术基于通过移动电荷载流子的光激发在半导体填充的平面波导中创建相对论前沿。在这项工作中，我们展示了 SLIPSTREAM 通过相对论前沿诱发跃迁操纵太赫兹 (THz) 光脉冲的能力。在亚光速前速度范围内，我们生成时间拉伸的太赫兹波形，准静态场持续数皮秒，可通过前相互作用距离进行调节。在超光度范围内，载波前沿超过 THz 脉冲，并且通过前沿诱导的带内跃迁执行时间反转操作。我们预计我们的平台将成为未来在太赫兹光谱波段应用的通用工具，需要在子周期级别直接和高级控制光。