Long-wavelength (lambda approximately 8-11.5 microm) semiconductor lasers with waveguides based on surface plasmons

Laser waveguides based on surface plasmons at a metal-semiconductor interface have been demonstrated by use of quantum cascade (QC) lasers emitting in the 8-11.5-microm wavelength range. The guided modes are transverse magnetic polarized surface waves that propagate at the metal (Pd or Ti-Au)-semiconductor interface between the laser top contact and the active region without the necessity for waveguide cladding layers. The resultant structure has the advantages of a strong decrease in the total layer thickness and a higher confinement factor of the laser-active region compared with those of a conventional layered semiconductor waveguide, and strong coupling to the active material, which could be used in devices such as distributed-feedback lasers. These advantages have to be traded against the disadvantage of increased absorption losses. A peak output power exceeding 25 mW at 90 K and a maximum operating temperature of 150 K were measured for a QC laser with an emission wavelength lambda approximately 8 microm . At lambda approximately 11.5 microm the peak power levels are several milliwatts and the maximum operating temperature is 110 K.     

An Integrated Sideband-Separating SIS Mixer Based on Waveguide Split Block for 100 GHz Band with 4.0–8.0 GHz IF

We have developed an integrated sideband-separating SIS mixer for the 100 GHz band based on the waveguide split block. The measured receiver noise temperatures with 4.0–8.0 GHz IF are less than 60 K in the LO frequency range of 90–110 GHz, and a minimum value of around 45 K is achieved at 100 GHz. The image rejection ratios are more than 10 dB in the frequency range of 90–110 GHz. We have installed the sideband-separating SIS mixer into an atmospheric ozone-measuring system at Osaka Prefecture University and successfully observed an ozone spectrum at 110 GHz in SSB mode. This experimental result indicates that the sideband-separating SIS mixer is very useful for astronomical observation as well as atmospheric observation.     

Efficient coupling of hybrid optical waveguide with a sharp bend structure for high integration

A hybrid optical waveguide with a \(90^{\circ }\) sharp bend comprising a dielectric straight waveguide, a tapered dielectric strip waveguide, and a microscale metal gap waveguide is proposed, modeled, fabricated, and characterized with the aim of improving the efficiency of light coupling between the dielectric and plasmonic waveguides. The simulation result using the full-vector finite-difference time domain shows a total transmissivity of about 63 % at a wavelength of 1,550 nm. A set of hybrid optical waveguide with a \(90^{\circ }\) bend is fabricated via the two-step photolithography and a metal lift-off process. From the measured result for the characteristics of the fabricated hybrid optical waveguide, the transmission loss was estimated to be about 17 dB, which is in stark contrast with the simulation value. Nevertheless, such a novel coupling scheme may be of potential use in high-density photonic integration applications.     

圆波导TM_(01)-TE_(11)模式变换器

提出了一种在圆波导中添加金属分割片及半边金属管壳的结构以实现圆波导TM01-TE11模式转换。通过金属分割片将圆波导分成两个半圆区域:其中一个半圆区域为空波导,另一半圆区域为填充一定厚度金属管壳的空波导。在S波段对设计的中心频率为2.8GHz的物理模型进行数值模拟与实验研究,模拟结果表明:在中心频率2.8GHz转换效率为99.56%,反射率低于0.01;在2.716～2.946GHz频带内转换效率大于90%,S11小于-10dB。实验中测试到的S11参数与模拟结果基本一致,证明了该变换器技术方案的可行性和模拟结果的正确性。     

2.9THz束缚态向连续态跃迁量子级联激光器研制

采用气源分子束外延技术生长了GaAs/AlGaAs束缚态向连续 态跃迁的太赫兹量子级联激光器材料, 基于半绝缘等离子体波导工艺制作了太赫兹量子级联激光器. 测量了激光器的发射光谱和功率-电流-电压关系曲线, 研究了器件的激光特性. 器件激射频率约2.95 THz, 脉冲模式下, 最高工作温度为67 K. 连续波模式下, 阈值电流密度最低为230 A/cm², 最大光输出功率1.2 mW, 最高工作温度为30 K. 关键词： 太赫兹 量子级联激光器 分子束外延 波导     

Athermal waveguides for optical communication wavelengths

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of temperature insensitive strip silicon-on-insulator racetrack resonators. The influence of various parameters, such as waveguide width, waveguide height, ring radius, coupling length, ring gap, and operating wavelength, on temperature-dependent wavelength shift is examined. A resonant wavelength shift of 0.2 pm/K at a 1550 nm wavelength is measured for 335 nm × 220 nm waveguides. A significant reduction of waveguide propagation losses, improved ring Q value, and higher extinction ratio are obtained after overlaying the silicon waveguides with a polymer cladding.     

Design of hybrid optical waveguide with a 90° bend structure for high density photonics integrated circuits

A hybrid optical waveguide having a 90° sharp bend structure, composed of a dielectric straight waveguide, tapered dielectric strip waveguide, and microscale metal gap waveguide, is proposed and simulated to improve the efficiency of light coupling between dielectric and plasmonic waveguides. Our simulation result is a critical step for the hybrid integration of plasmonic components with conventional dielectric components.     

酞菁铜LB薄膜覆盖层光波导的光学双稳特性

利用LB薄膜技术在一定尺寸的钾离子交换玻璃波导上制备了30层四—4—(2、4—二特戊基苯氧基)酞菁铜(简称tapCuPc)Z型LB薄膜,形成覆盖有LB薄膜的四层介质波导.首次报道在室温下采用不同激光脉冲观察覆盖有LB薄膜的光波导片上的光学双稳特性,除去LB薄膜覆盖层后没有观察到光双稳特征.     

径向线型模式变换器

 研究了一种通过改变波导内场分布的旋转对称性,可将高功率微波源输出的TEM模或TM01模转换为TE11模的径向线型模式变换器。介绍了该模式变换器的基本原理,即采用金属插板将同轴波导TEM模变换为4路90°扇形波导TE11模,各路扇形波导间所需的输出相位差通过将扇形波导转换为双层径向线传输来实现。基于这一原理,设计了一个中心频率为1.6 GHz的同轴TEM-TE11模式变换器,并进行了数值模拟计算,结果表明该模式变换器具有较高的功率容量,中心频率处反射系数为0.05,模式转换效率为99%,在1.52~1.68 GHz的频带范围内,模式转换效率大于90%。     

Array waveguide evanescent ribbon coupler for card-to-backplane optical interconnects

A flexible array waveguide evanescent coupler for card-to-backplane optical interconnects is presented. The proposed technique eliminates traditional 90 degrees out-of-plane turns and local waveguide termination of multidrop bus architectures that hinder conventional card-to-backplane optical interconnections. Evanescent coupling between array waveguide ribbons has been successfully demonstrated. Further experiments have been performed to quantify array waveguide coupling length versus transfer efficiency and waveguide misalignment tolerance. Preliminary optical interconnect testing has demonstrated 2.5GHz operation of the coupler ribbons. The successful high-speed coupling confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method for high-speed computing systems.     

An SIS waveguide heterodyne receiver for 600 HGz-635 GHz

A waveguide SIS heterodyne receiver using a Nb/AlO_X/Nb junction has been built for astronomical observations of molecular transitions in the frequency range 600 GHz - 635 GHz, and has been successfully used at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). We report double sideband (DSB) receiver noise temperatures as low as 245 K at 600 GHz -610 GHz, and near 300 K over the rest of the bandwidth. These results confirm that SIS quasiparticle mixers work well at submillimeter-wave frequencies corresponding to photon energies of at least 90% of the superconductor energy gap. In addition, we have systematically investigated the effect on the receiver performance of the overlap between first-order and second-order photon steps of opposite sign at these frequencies. The receiver noise increases by as much as 40% in the region of overlap. We infer potential limitations for operating submillimeter-wave Nb/AlO_x/Nb mixers.     

Ka波段二次谐波损耗波导回旋行波管非线性分析

 建立了由损耗段和铜段组成的波导结构的Ka波段二次谐波回旋行波放大器理论模型,并进行了非线性理论研究。基于稳定性分析,确定35 GHz TE₀₂模二次谐波回旋行波放大器的基本工作参数:波导半径为1.02 cm,电子注工作电压为90 kV,工作电流为25 A,工作磁场为0.642 6 T,横纵速度比为1.2;然后通过模拟详细分析了工作电流、波导损耗和速度零散等因素对该放大器性能的影响。研究表明：在该结构中损耗段可以有效地抑制模式竞争从而提高输出功率和带宽;工作电流对输出功率的影响存在最大值;速度零散对输出功率有很大的影响。     

Optimized 90° Polarization Shift Step Twists for Ku, K and Ka Bands

Optimized models for 90° polarization shift step twists for Ku, K and Ka bands are presented. The cross-section of the waveguide employed is similar to that of a rectangular one, with the difference that the walls of the shorter side are part of a circular one with the proper diameter. The optimized models have been found using the CST Microwave Studio simulation tool and in all cases the return loss is kept below -20 dB for a wide range of frequency spectrum. Two examples are given, one for Ku band and the other for K and Ka ones.     

高频原子波导中冷原子的磁导引

建立了高频原子波导模型,分析了铷冷原子在该波导内与磁场的相互作用势。高频波导线圈输入电流,在线圈中心轴线区域的势阱深度为mK量级,在线圈的径向能对温度为100 K左右的冷原子实现囚禁。通过分析可知改变输入波导线圈的输入电流大小,可改变势场的大小。计算了进入高频原子波导的冷原子和波导磁场产生相互作用束缚力的大小。在波导轴线中心区域,原子受到的束缚力较大,最大为1.710－23 N,为原子所受重力的10倍。     

Hot electron bolometric mixers: new terahertz technology

This paper presents an overview of recent results for NbN phonon-cooled hot electron bolometric (HEB) mixers. The noise temperature of the receivers based on both quasioptical and waveguide versions of HEB mixers has crossed the level of 1 K GHz⁻¹ at 430 GHz (410 K), 600–650 GHz (480 K), 750 GHz (600 K), 810 GHz (780 K) and is close to that level at 1.1 THz (1250 K) and 2.5 THz (4500 K). The gain bandwidth measured for quasioptical HEB mixer at 620 GHz reached 4 GHz and the noise temperature bandwidth was almost 8 GHz. Local oscillator power requirements are about 1 μW for mixers made by photolithography and about 100 nW for mixers made by e-beam lithography. A waveguide version of 800 GHz receiver was installed at the Submillimeter Telescope Observatory on Mt. Graham, AZ, to conduct astronomical observations of known submillimeter lines (CO, J=7→6, CI, J=2→1). It was proved that the receiver works as a practical instrument.     

High-power and high-temperature THz quantum-cascade lasers based on lens-coupled metal-metal waveguides

A metal-metal waveguide quantum cascade laser with an abutted silicon hyperhemispherical lens is demonstrated at ~4.1 THz. The device produced 145 mW of peak pulsed power at 5 K with a wall-plug power efficiency of 0.7%, lasing up to a maximum operating temperature of 160 K. The far-field beam pattern has a full width at half-maximum value of ~4.8 degrees in the H plane. The same device produced ~26 mW of peak power using a Winston cone instead of a lens, lasing up to 165 K. The large increase in output power is mainly attributed to an increase in collection efficiency.     

A 119 GHz planar Schottky diode mixer for a space application

A planar single-ended GaAs Schottky diode mixer has been designed, built, and tested at 119 GHz. The mixer front end includes also a waveguide filter for image rejection, and a temperature compensated ring filter. Measurements at room temperature showed a conversion loss of 7 dB and a noise temperature of 900 K (SSB). At 100 K the measured noise temperature of the mixer was 500 K (SSB).     

一种新型同轴TEM-圆波导TE11模式变换器

 提出了一种新型同轴插板式模式变换器，可以实现同轴TEM到圆波导TE₁₁模式的变换。介绍了这种模式变换器的工作原理：即通过在同轴波导中沿轴向插入金属板，将同轴TEM模变换成扇形截面波导TE₁₁模，进而利用不同扇形截面波导中的相移改变电场分布的轴对称性，在同轴波导中形成同轴TE₁₁模，最后将同轴TE₁₁模转换为圆波导TE₁₁模式。基于这一原理设计了一个中心频率为3.8GHz的同轴TEM-圆波导TE₁₁模式变换器，并进行了数值模拟。模拟结果表明：这种模式变换器可以承受高功率，中心频率上转换效率为98.5%，转换效率大于90%的带宽超过10%，在3.5~4.1GHz的频率范围内反射损耗低于0.3dB。     

Material growth and device fabrication of terahertz quantum-cascade laser based on bound-to-continuum structure

The terahertz quantum-cascade laser （THz QCL） based on bound-to-continuum structure is demonstrated. The X-ray diffraction measurement of the material shows a high crystalline quality of the active region. A THz QCL device was fabricated with semi-insulating surface-plasmon waveguide. The test device is lasing at about 3 THz and operating up to 60 K. It shows a single frequency property under different drive currents and temperatures. At 9 K, the maximum output power is greater than 2 mW with a threshold current density of 159 A/cm2.     

Zn0.8Cd0.2Se-ZnSe应变层超晶格的激子发光和受激发射

本文用MOCVD技术在GaAs衬底上成功地制备了具有波导结构的Zn0.8Cd0.2Se-ZnSe应变层超晶格样品,在77K温度的光致发光光谱中观测到n=1的重空穴和轻空穴激子的辐射复合。在光泵浦下,在波导结构的F-P腔中观测到具有多模结构的受激发射,受激发射谱中的不同模具有不同的阈值功率密度;时间延迟衰减曲线的半宽度越窄,阈值光强越大.