[PDF] Broadly Tunable Terahertz Difference Frequency Generation In Mid Infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers eBook

Author : Yifan Jiang (Ph. D. in electrical and computer engineering)
Publisher :
Page : 204 pages
File Size : 36,79 MB
Release : 2017
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ISBN :

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Room-temperature terahertz (THz) sources analogous to diode lasers in the near-infrared/visible or quantum cascade lasers (QCL) in the mid-infrared (mid-IR), i.e., electrically pumped, compact, widely tunable, and suitable for low-cost production, are highly desired for feasible and inexpensive THz systems. This dissertation focuses on demonstrating broadly tunable, room-temperature THz systems based on intra-cavity difference frequency generation (DFG) in mid-IR QCLs with improved spectral capability for versatile applications. Spectral control using an external cavity provides the widest tuning range and is favored for real-world applications. DFG-THz could be spectrally tuned by either tuning one mid-IR pump or by tuning both mid-IR pumps together. I built a Littrow-type, external cavity THz DFG-QCL system that generated spectral tunable THz radiation by fixing one mid-IR pump frequency with an integrated DFB grating on top of the QCL structure and tuning the other mid-IR pump frequency with an external grating, thus demonstrating record broadband narrow linewidth THz frequency tuning from 1.2 to 5.9 THz. A Cherenkov waveguide is used in this system to extract THz radiation through the semi-insulating InP substrate; however, InP has dispersion in 1–6 THz, resulting in steering far field profiles for different THz frequencies. Replacing the InP substrate with high-resistance silicon through an adhesive bonding process solved the beam steering problem of this THz DFG-QCL system. I also built a double-Littrow, external cavity DFG-THz system that tunes both mid-IR pump frequencies using two external diffraction gratings. Such a system allows performing a comprehensive spectroscopic study of the optical nonlinearity and its dependence on the mid-infrared pump frequencies. Our work shows that the terahertz generation efficiency can vary by a factor of two or more, depending on the spectral position of the mid-infrared pumps, even for a fixed THz difference frequency. Using this system, we investigated different active region designs: bound-to-continuum, continuum-to-continuum, three-phonon-resonance, and dual-upper-state active region design. Our studies show THz DFG-QCL based a bound-to-continuum active region with gain centered around 15 μm has an order of magnitude enhancement of mid-IR to THz conversion efficiency, which provides a trend for future improvement of the power performance of THz DFG-QCLs

Author : Karun Vijayraghavan
Publisher :
Page : 226 pages
File Size : 15,85 MB
Release : 2014
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The terahertz (THz) spectral range is devoid of commercially feasible radiation sources, detectors, and components. In particular, THz sources are bulky, complex to operate, and cost-prohibitive - more suited for a research laboratory than a commercial setting. Developing compact and mass-producible sources in the 1 to 6 THz spectral range will open up new avenues for this technology to make a mainstream societal impact. The focus of this thesis is the development of compact, room-temperature terahertz sources based on quantum cascade lasers (QCL) and quantum well technology. QCLs are semiconductor lasers that operate with high power at mid-infrared (mid-IR) and THz frequencies. THz QCLs are the only mW-level average power sources with spectral coverage from 0.8 to 5 THz. However they only work at cryogenic temperatures because they cannot maintain population inversion across the lasing transition at elevated temperatures. Cryogenic cooling makes these sources cumbersome to operate and expensive to manufacture. Room-temperature operation significantly enhances their commercial appeal and a portion of this dissertation investigated the improvement in THz QCL temperature performance using GaAs-Al0.15Ga0.85As double-phonon resonant active region designs. These devices worked up to 173 K and were a substantial improvement compared to prior implementations of double-phonon resonant designs. Room-temperature THz sources that do not require population inversion across the lasing transition can be engineered by combining the field of nonlinear optics with intersubband transitions in quantum well structures. One method of creating inversionless THz lasing is based upon the principle of Raman gain in semiconductors and this thesis explores the design of an intersubband Raman laser (IRL) with GaAs-Al0.33Ga0.67As heterostructures. The primary focus of this dissertation is developing room-temperature, broadly-tunable, monolithic THz sources based on difference-frequency generation (DFG) in mid-IR QCLs. The source active region is quantum-engineered to provide lasing at mid-IR frequencies, [omega]1 and [omega]2, and simultaneously have giant second-order optical nonlinearity for THz generation at frequency [omega] [subscript THz]=[omega]1-[omega]2. This dissertation developed a Cherenkov emission scheme that produced devices with a narrow emission linewidth, 0.12 mW peak power and tuning from 1.55 to 5.7 THz - the largest tuning bandwidth compared to semiconductor technology of similar size and cost.

Author : Dan Botez
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 552 pages
File Size : 12,51 MB
Release : 2023-09-14
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 1108570607

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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.

Author : Dan Botez
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 551 pages
File Size : 44,88 MB
Release : 2023-06-30
Category : Science
ISBN : 1108427936

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A state-of-the-art overview of this rapidly expanding field, featuring fundamental theory, practical applications, and real-life examples.

Author : Aiting Jiang
Publisher :
Page : 204 pages
File Size : 21,58 MB
Release : 2015
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Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers (THz QCLs) and Terahertz Difference Frequency Generation Quantum Cascade Laser sources (DFG-QCLs) are two types of semiconductor THz radiation sources that are compact and amenable to production in mass quantities. THz QCL can generate over 1W of power under cryogenic temperatures, while THz DFG-QCL can be operated under room temperature over 1mW level output. For either case, widely tunable solution is highly desired for spectroscopy applications. For THz QCLs, operation is still limited to cryogenic temperature and broad tuning is not available. Our experimental study shows that using variable barriers is a viable approach to enhance the design space for THz QCLs. We also propose to tune the spectral output of these devices using an optically projected variable distributed feedback grating. Tuning will be achieved by changing the projected grating period. Preliminary experimental results support the idea but higher pumping light intensity is required for this method to work. For THz DFG-QCLs, very broad tuning in 1-6 THz range has been demonstrated using rotating diffraction grating in an external cavity setup. Similar tuning range can also be achieved in a monolithic configuration. Based on the previous work which demonstrated an electrical monolithic tuner with 580 GHz tuning range, we design and test in this dissertation a linear array of 10 DFG-QCL devices to cover a 2 THz tuning range. An independent gain control scheme is developed to achieve high yield (~100%) of individual device. It is implemented via independent current pumping of two electrically isolated sections. Surface DFB grating and independent current pumping scheme used in our DFG QCLs is found to be useful for mid-IR QCL array sources. We propose a longitudinal integration scheme of multiple grating sections. It enables a single ridge to emit single mode radiation at different wavelengths upon selection. This helps to reduce mid-IR QCL array far field span. We demonstrated single ridge devices that can emit 2 or 3 different wavelengths upon selection.

Author : Louise Jumpertz
Publisher : Springer
Page : 152 pages
File Size : 10,25 MB
Release : 2017-08-31
Category : Science
ISBN : 3319658794

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This thesis presents the first comprehensive analysis of quantum cascade laser nonlinear dynamics and includes the first observation of a temporal chaotic behavior in quantum cascade lasers. It also provides the first analysis of optical instabilities in the mid-infrared range. Mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers are unipolar semiconductor lasers, which have become widely used in applications such as gas spectroscopy, free-space communications or optical countermeasures. Applying external perturbations such as optical feedback or optical injection leads to a strong modification of the quantum cascade laser properties. Optical feedback impacts the static properties of mid-infrared Fabry–Perot and distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers, inducing power increase; threshold reduction; modification of the optical spectrum, which can become either single- or multimode; and enhanced beam quality in broad-area transverse multimode lasers. It also leads to a different dynamical behavior, and a quantum cascade laser subject to optical feedback can oscillate periodically or even become chaotic. A quantum cascade laser under external control could therefore be a source with enhanced properties for the usual mid-infrared applications, but could also address new applications such as tunable photonic oscillators, extreme events generators, chaotic Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), chaos-based secured communications or unpredictable countermeasures.

Author : Tasmim Alam
Publisher : Cuvillier Verlag
Page : 132 pages
File Size : 44,91 MB
Release : 2020-10-29
Category : Science
ISBN : 3736962975

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Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are attractive for high-resolution spectroscopy because they can provide high power and a narrow linewidth. They are particularly promising in the terahertz (THz) range since they can be used as local oscillators for heterodyne detection as well as transmitters for direct detection. However, THz QCL-based technologies are still under development and are limited by the lack of frequency tunability as well as the frequency and output power stability for free-running operation. In this dissertation, frequency tuning and linewidth of THz QCLs are studied in detail by using rotational spectroscopic features of molecular species. In molecular spectroscopy, the Doppler eff ect broadens the spectral lines of molecules in the gas phase at thermal equilibrium. Saturated absorption spectroscopy has been performed that allows for sub-Doppler resolution of the spectral features. One possible application is QCL frequency stabilization based on the Lamb dip. Since the tunability of the emission frequency is an essential requirement to use THz QCL for high-resolution spectroscopy, a new method has been developed that relies on near-infrared (NIR) optical excitation of the QCL rear-facet. A wide tuning range has been achieved by using this approach. The scheme is straightforward to implement, and the approach can be readily applied to a large class of THz QCLs. The frequency and output stability of the local oscillator has a direct impact on the performance and consistency of the heterodyne spectroscopy. A technique has been developed for a simultaneous stabilization of the frequency and output power by taking advantage of the frequency and power regulation by NIR excitation. The results presented in this thesis will enable the routine use of THz QCLs for spectroscopic applications in the near future.

Author : Benjamin Adams Burnett
Publisher :
Page : 223 pages
File Size : 20,94 MB
Release : 2016
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The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between roughly 300 GHz and 10 THz is nicknamed the "THz Gap" because of the enormous difficulty encountered by researchers to devise practical sources covering it. Still, the quantum cascade laser (QCL) has emerged over recent years as the most promising approach to a practical source in the 1-5 THz range. First developed in the higher-frequency mid-IR, where they are now widely available, QCLs were later extended to the THz where a host of greater design challenges awaited. Lasing in QCLs is based on intersubband optical transitions in semiconductor quantum wells, the energy of which can be chosen by design ("bandstructure engineering"). However, simply building a THz optical transition is insufficient; a good design must also produce significant population inversion by the applied cascading electron current, and this requires deep understanding of the transport physics. So far, no THz QCL has operated above the temperature of 200 K, even though the reasons prohibiting high temperature operation are well known. The goal of this Thesis is to put novel ideas for high-temperature operation of THz QCL active regions through rigorous theoretical testing. The central enabling development is a density-matrix-based model of transport and optical properties tailored for use in QCLs, which is general enough that widely varying design concepts can be tested using the same core principles. Importantly, by simulating QCLs more generally, fewer a priori assumptions are required on part of the researcher, allowing for the true physics to emerge on its own. It will be shown that this gives rise to new and useful insights that will help to guide the experimental efforts towards realization of these devices. One specific application is a quantum dot cascade laser (QDCL), a highly ambitious approach in which the electrons cascade through a series of quantum dots rather than wells. Benefits are expected due to the suppression of nonradiative scattering, brought about by the discrete spectrum of electronic states. However, this in turn leads to a highly different physics of transport and effects that are not well understood, even in the case of perfect materials. This work will show that while the benefits are clear, naive scaling of existing QCL designs to the quantum dot limit will not work. An alternative strategy is given based on a revised understanding of the nature of transport, and is put to a test of practicality in which the effects of quantum dot size inhomogeneity are estimated. Another application is to the already existing method of THz difference frequency generation in mid-IR QCLs, which occurs via a difference-frequency susceptibility $\chi^{(2)}$ in the active region itself. For this purpose, the model is extended to enable a coherent and nonperturbative calculation of optical nonlinearities. First, the generality of the method is displayed through the emergence of exotic nonlinear effects, including electromagnetically-induced transparency, in mock quantum-well systems. Then, the modeling concepts are applied to the real devices, where two new and important mechanisms contributing to $\chi^{(2)}$ are identified. Most importantly, it is predicted that the QCL acts as an extremely fast photodetector of itself, giving rise to a current response to the mid-IR beatnote that provides a better path forward to the generation of frequencies below ~2 THz. Finally, the fundamentals of density matrix transport theory for QCLs are revisited to develop a model for conventional THz QCL designs eliminating the usual phenomenological treatment of scattering. The new theory is fully developed from first principles, and in particular sheds light on the effects of scattering-induced electron localization. The versatility of the model is demonstrated by successful simulation of varying active region designs.