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Broadly tunable terahertz generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

Author

Listed:
  • Karun Vijayraghavan

    (Mircroelectronics Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Yifan Jiang

    (Mircroelectronics Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Min Jang

    (Mircroelectronics Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Aiting Jiang

    (Mircroelectronics Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Karthik Choutagunta

    (Mircroelectronics Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Augustinas Vizbaras

    (Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universität München)

  • Frederic Demmerle

    (Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universität München)

  • Gerhard Boehm

    (Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universität München)

  • Markus C. Amann

    (Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universität München)

  • Mikhail A. Belkin

    (Mircroelectronics Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin)

Abstract

Room temperature, broadly tunable, electrically pumped semiconductor sources in the terahertz spectral range, similar in operation simplicity to diode lasers, are highly desired for applications. An emerging technology in this area are sources based on intracavity difference-frequency generation in dual-wavelength mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers. Here we report terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on an optimized non-collinear Cherenkov difference-frequency generation scheme that demonstrates dramatic improvements in performance. Devices emitting at 4 THz display a mid-infrared-to-terahertz conversion efficiency in excess of 0.6 mW W−2 and provide nearly 0.12 mW of peak power output. Devices emitting at 2 and 3 THz fabricated on the same chip display 0.09 and 0.4 mW W−2 conversion efficiencies at room temperature, respectively. High terahertz-generation efficiency and relaxed phase-matching conditions offered by the Cherenkov scheme allowed us to demonstrate, for the first time, an external-cavity terahertz quantum cascade laser source tunable between 1.70 and 5.25 THz.

Suggested Citation

  • Karun Vijayraghavan & Yifan Jiang & Min Jang & Aiting Jiang & Karthik Choutagunta & Augustinas Vizbaras & Frederic Demmerle & Gerhard Boehm & Markus C. Amann & Mikhail A. Belkin, 2013. "Broadly tunable terahertz generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3021
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3021
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