Frequency tuning of THz quantum cascade lasers

Xifeng Qian; Andriy A. Danylov; Alexander R. Light; Jerry Waldman; Neal Erickson

doi:10.1117/12.2175696

14 March 2015 Frequency tuning of THz quantum cascade lasers

Xifeng Qian, Andriy A. Danylov, Alexander R. Light, Jerry Waldman, Neal Erickson

Proceedings Volume 9362, Terahertz, RF, Millimeter, and Submillimeter-Wave Technology and Applications VIII; 93620U (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2175696
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

This paper introduces the continuously tunable THz radiation through sideband generation of a free running and solidnitrogen- cooled THz quantum cascade laser. The 2.324 THz QCL operating in a single longitudinal mode (SLM) in continuous-wave (cw) was mixed with a swept synthesized microwave signal by a THz Schottky-diode-balanced mixer. Through sideband generation, two frequency branches were observed at low and high frequency, characterized with a Fourier-transform spectrometer. At low frequency, the sideband generates frequencies from -50 GHz to +50 GHz. At high frequency, it generates sideband frequencies from 70 GHz to 115 GHz. The total ±100 GHz tuning range can be further expanded with higher frequency millimeter wave amplifier/multiplier source. The sideband generates total 1 μW of output power at both upper and lower frequency with 200 μW of driven power from the THz QCL, showing a power conversion efficiency of 5 × 10^-3. The demonstration of this SM, continuously tunable THz source enables its applications where SM, spatially coherent beam is required.

Citation Download Citation

Xifeng Qian, Andriy A. Danylov, Alexander R. Light, Jerry Waldman, and Neal Erickson "Frequency tuning of THz quantum cascade lasers", Proc. SPIE 9362, Terahertz, RF, Millimeter, and Submillimeter-Wave Technology and Applications VIII, 93620U (14 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2175696

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KEYWORDS

Terahertz radiation

Quantum cascade lasers

Microwave radiation

Spectroscopy

Continuous wave operation

Spatial light modulators

Absorption

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