High Power-efficiency Terahertz Quantum Cascade Laser*Project Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos. 2014CB339803 and 2013CB632801), the Special-funded Program on National Key Scientific Instruments and Equipment Development, China (Grant No. 2011YQ13001802-04), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61376051).

High Power-efficiency Terahertz Quantum Cascade Laser*Project Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos. 2014CB339803 and 2013CB632801), the Special-funded Program on National Key Scientific Instruments and Equipment Development, China (Grant No. 2011YQ13001802-04), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61376051). PDF Author:
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Languages : en
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High-Power and High-Efficiency Operation of Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers at 3.3 THz*Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China Under Grant Nos 2014CB339803 and 2013CB632801, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant

High-Power and High-Efficiency Operation of Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers at 3.3 THz*Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China Under Grant Nos 2014CB339803 and 2013CB632801, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant PDF Author:
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Languages : en
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Abstract : A high-power and high-efficiency GaAs/AlGaAs-based terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser structure emitting at 3.3 THz is presented. The structure is based on a hybrid bound-to-continuum transition and resonant-phonon extraction active region combined with a semi-insulating surface-plasmon waveguide. By optimizing material structure and device processing, the peak optical output power of 758 mW with a threshold current density of 120 A/cm 2 and a wall-plug efficiency of 0.92% at 10K and 404mW at 77K are obtained in pulsed operation. The maximum operating temperature is as high as 115 K. In the cw mode, a record optical output power of 160 mW with a threshold current density of 178 A/cm 2 and a wall-plug efficiency of 1.32% is achieved at 10 K.

Very Low Threshold Operation of Quantum Cascade Lasers*Project Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos. 2013CB632801 and 2013CB632803), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61306058, 61274094, and 61435014), and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 4144086).

Very Low Threshold Operation of Quantum Cascade Lasers*Project Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos. 2013CB632801 and 2013CB632803), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61306058, 61274094, and 61435014), and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 4144086). PDF Author:
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Languages : en
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Mid-Infrared and Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

Mid-Infrared and Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers PDF Author: Dan Botez
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108570607
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 552

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Learn how the rapidly expanding area of mid-infrared and terahertz photonics has been revolutionized in this comprehensive overview. State-of-the-art practical applications are supported by real-life examples and expert guidance. Also featuring fundamental theory enabling you to improve performance of both existing and future devices.

A Broadband Pulsed External-Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser Operating Near 6.9 Μm*Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant Nos 11174098 and 11574107, and the Self-Determined Research Funds of Central China Normal University Under Grant No CCNU15A02034

A Broadband Pulsed External-Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser Operating Near 6.9 Μm*Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant Nos 11174098 and 11574107, and the Self-Determined Research Funds of Central China Normal University Under Grant No CCNU15A02034 PDF Author:
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Languages : en
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Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers PDF Author: Saeed Fathololoumi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Semiconductor lasers
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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High-Temperature and High-Power Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Lasers

High-Temperature and High-Power Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Lasers PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 10

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From High Power Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers to Terahertz Light Amplifiers

From High Power Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers to Terahertz Light Amplifiers PDF Author: Tsung-Yu Kao
Publisher:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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The terahertz (THz) frequency range (300 GHz to 10 THz, wavelength 30-1000 [mu]m), despite having many potential applications, is technologically relatively underdeveloped mainly because of the lack of suitable coherent radiation sources when compared with nearby electromagnetic radiation spectrum. The invention of the THz quantum cascade laser, a electronically-pumped semiconductor heterostructure which emits photons from electronic intersubband transitions, provides the first solidstate fundamental oscillator at the frequency range from 1.2 to 5.1 THz. Due to the subwavelength confinement nature of the metal-metal waveguide used in most of the THz QC lasers, far-field beam patterns from lasers with simple Fabry-Perot waveguides are divergent and far from ideal Gaussian beams. The first part of this thesis describes the development of single-mode THz QC lasers on metal-metal waveguides. Starting with the corrugated third-order DFB laser-a clever laser structure which utilizes end-fire array effect to achieve low divergence beam patterns-several applications using densely-packed third-order DFB laser arrays, such as frequency agile sources for THz swept-source optical tomography and local oscillators for THz heterodyne receivers with precise frequency control, have been investigated. With the improved design rules and fabrication techniques, 830 GHz single-mode frequency coverage on a monolithic multicolor DFB laser array has been achieved. The origin of the deterioration in far-field beam patterns and power outputs in long third-order DFB lasers is then identified. This finding leads to a modified third-order DFB laser structure which can achieve perfect phase-matching (PM) condition, resulting in scalable power output and even lower beam divergence when compared with that of a conventional third-order DFB laser. Radiations from up to 151 laser sectors are phase-locked to form a single-lobe beam pattern with divergence ~ 6 x 11° and ~13 mW pulsed power at the end-fire direction. This approach substantially increases the usable length of a third-order DFB laser while keeping a high slope efficiency (140 mW/A). Later development applies the concept of microstrip antenna-a structure commonly used in microwave engineering-to THz photonics devices. By coupling the microstrip antenna to each grating aperture of a perfectly phase-matched DFB laser, the radiation impedance of the laser can now be tuned to enhance the overall emission efficiency. This novel genre of DFB laser achieves > 8 mW pulsed power (10% duty-cycle) at 12 K with beam divergence as low as 12.5 x 12.5' and maximum lasing temperature Tmax = 109 K (pulsed) and 77 K (c.w.) with the highest slope efficiency (~450 mW/A) and wall-plug efficiency (0.57%) of all THz DFB laser sources. The second part of the thesis then focuses on the development of the first light amplifier in THz frequency under Fabry-Perot amplifier (FPA) scheme. Although amplification at terahertz frequency in quantum cascade structures has been demonstrated under the transient state or in a integrated platform, none of them is suitable for amplifying continuous-wave free-space THz radiations. The proposed amplifier is consisted of an array of short-cavity surface-emitting second-order distributed feedback lasers arranged in a two-dimensional grid which are operated marginally beneath their lasing thresholds. A overall system power gain of ~5.6x = 7.5 dB at ~3 THz is obtained with ~1 GHz bandwidth. The free-space THz light amplifier can be used as the pre-amplifier for a THz heterodyne receiver system to reduce the receiver system noise, or be placed on the focal plane of a THz imaging system to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the image and reduce the acquisition time. A new locking mechanism for two-dimensional phase-locked laser arrays based on antenna mutual-coupling is also proposed and then successfully demonstrated in the THz frequency using short-cavity DFB THz lasers. Up to 37 lasers are phase-locked to deliver 6.5 mW single-mode pulsed power (4% duty-cycle) at 3 THz with symmetric beam pattern ( 10 x 10°). This new coupling scheme can be extended to other electromagnetic systems with sub-wavelength confined elements such as plasmonic lasers and nanolasers. This thesis also reports the development of fabrication techniques required to bring the aforementioned novel THz cavity designs from concepts to reality which include a high aspect ratio ( 1:10) anisotropic reactive-ion etch on GaAs which is compatible with the metal-metal waveguide platform and the procedure to create airbridge structures by selectively removing the dielectric materials beneath the metal contacts.

Terahertz Difference Frequency Generation Quantum Cascade Lasers with Improved Terahertz Out-coupling Efficiency

Terahertz Difference Frequency Generation Quantum Cascade Lasers with Improved Terahertz Out-coupling Efficiency PDF Author: Jae Hyun Kim
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Development of Terahertz QCLs

Development of Terahertz QCLs PDF Author: Sushil Kumar (Ph. D.)
Publisher:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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The terahertz or the far-infrared frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum (...) has historically been technologically underdeveloped despite having many potential applications, primarily due to lack of suitable sources of coherent radiation. Following on the remarkable development of mid-infrared (...) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) in the past decade, this thesis describes the development of electrically-pumped terahertz quantum-cascade lasers in GaAs/AlsGal_. As heterostructures that span a spectral range of 1.59 - 5.0 THz (...). A quantum-cascade laser (QCL) emits photons due to electronic intersubband transitions in the quantum-wells of a semiconductor heterostructure. The operation of terahertz QCLs at frequencies below the Reststrahlen band in the semiconductor (...), is significantly more challenging as compared to that of the mid-infrared QCLs. Firstly, due to small energy separation between the laser levels various intersubband scattering mechanisms are activated, which make it difficult to selectively depopulate the lower laser level. Additionally, as electrons gain enough kinetic energy in the upper laser level thermally activated longitudinal-optical (LO) phonon scattering reduces the level lifetime and makes it difficult to sustain population inversion at higher temperatures. Secondly, waveguide design for terahertz mode confinement is also more challenging due to higher free-carrier losses in the semiconducting doped regions at the terahertz frequencies. For successful designs reported in this work, the lower radiative state depopulation is achieved by a combination of resonant-tunneling and fast LO phonon scattering, which allow robust operation even at relatively high temperatures. An equally important enabling mechanism for these lasers is the development of metal-metal waveguides, which provide low waveguides losses, and strong mode confinement due to subwavelength mode localization in the vertical dimension. With these techniques some record performances for terahertz QCLs are demonstrated including the highest pulsed operating temperature of 169 K, the highest continuous-wave (cw) operating temperature of 117 K, and the highest optical power output (248 mW in pulsed and 138 mW in cw at 5 K) for any terahertz QCL. Towards the bigger goal of realizing a 1-THz solid-state laser to ultimately bridge the gap between electronic and optical sources of electromagnetic radiation, QCLs with a unique one-well injection scheme, which minimizes intersubband absorption losses that occur at longer wavelengths, are developed. Based on this scheme a QCL operating at 1.59 THz (A - 189 ym) is realized, which is amongst the lowest frequency solid-state lasers that operate without the assistance of a magnetic field. This thesis also reports on the development of distributed-feedback lasers in metal-metal waveguides to obtain single-mode operation, with greater output power and better beam quality. The subwavelength vertical dimension in these waveguides leads to a strongly coupled DFB action and a large reflection from the end-facets, and thus conventional coupled-mode theory is not directly applicable to the DFB design. A design technique with precise control of phase of reflection at the end-facets is developed with the aid of finite-element analysis, and with some additional unique design and fabrication methods, robust DFB operation has been obtained. Single-mode surface-emitting terahertz QCLs operating up to - 150 K are demonstrated, with different grating devices spanning a range of approximately 0.35 THz around v - 3 THz using the same gain medium. A single-lobed far-field radiation pattern, higher output power due to surface-emission, and a relatively small degradation in temperature performance compared to the Fabry-Perot ridge lasers makes these DFB lasers well suited for practical applications that are being targeted by the terahertz quantum-cascade lasers.