Open AccessUltra-broadband room-temperature terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on difference frequency generation
Author(s) -
Kazuue Fujita,
Masahiro Hitaka,
Akio Ito,
Masamichi Yamanishi,
Tatsuo Dougakiuchi,
Tadataka Edamura
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.24.016357
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , quantum cascade laser , photomixing , optics , broadband , materials science , optoelectronics , laser , terahertz spectroscopy and technology , cascade , grating , far infrared laser , physics , terahertz metamaterials , chemistry , chromatography
We present ultra-broadband room temperature monolithic terahertz quantum cascade laser (QCL) sources based on intra-cavity difference frequency generation, emitting continuously more than one octave in frequency between 1.6 and 3.8 THz, with a peak output power of ~200 μW. Broadband terahertz emission is realized by nonlinear mixing between single-mode and multi-mode spectra due to distributed feedback grating and Fabry-Perot cavity, respectively, in a mid-infrared QCL with dual-upper-state active region design. Besides, at low temperature of 150 K, the device produces a peak power of ~1.0 mW with a broadband THz emission centered at 2.5 THz, ranging from 1.5 to 3.7 THz.