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.     

基于太赫兹量子阱探测器的太赫兹量子级联激光器发射谱研究

采用一个光谱匹配的太赫兹(THz)量子阱探测器(QWP)研究了一激射频率约为41 THz的THz量子级联激光器(QCL)在不同驱动电流下的发射谱,分析了测量得到的发射谱谱型和谱峰位置,根据测量的发射谱估算了太赫兹量子级联激光器发射功率随驱动电流变化的情况,从而得到了THz QCL激射的电流密度范围及其阈值电流密度.文中还研究了THz QWP在不同温度下对THz QCL 激光辐射的响应特性.研究结果表明,THz QWP在表征THz QCL的发射谱方面是一种很好的探测器,并有望成为未来THz通信中的接收装置. 关键词： 太赫兹量子阱探测器 太赫兹量子级联激光器 太赫兹通信 Fourier变换红外光谱     

基于太赫兹量子阱探测器的太赫兹量子级联激光器发射谱研究

采用一个光谱匹配的太赫兹(THz)量子阱探测器(QWP)研究了一激射频率约为41 THz的THz量子级联激光器(QCL)在不同驱动电流下的发射谱,分析了测量得到的发射谱谱型和谱峰位置,根据测量的发射谱估算了太赫兹量子级联激光器发射功率随驱动电流变化的情况,从而得到了THz QCL激射的电流密度范围及其阈值电流密度.文中还研究了THz QWP在不同温度下对THz QCL 激光辐射的响应特性.研究结果表明,THz QWP在表征THz QCL的发射谱方面是一种很好的探测器,并有望成为未来THz通信中的接收装置.     

Real-time reflection imaging with terahertz camera and quantum-cascade laser

A real-time reflection imaging employing a terahertz （THz） camera as the imager and a 3.9 THz quantum- cascade laser （QCL） as the light source is demonstrated. The imaging light is collected and guided by only one off-axis parabolic mirror. The imaging distance is about 1 m. THz images of a coin and a knife are aacquired and analyzed. An actual soatial resolution with a value of about 0.33 mm is achieved.     

基于太赫兹量子级联激光器的实时成像研究进展

太赫兹(THz)实时成像是THz技术中颇具潜力的一个领域,具有成像速度快、成像分辨率高等特点,基于THz量子级联激光器(QCL)的实时成像系统是其中最重要的一种,系统体积小、重量轻、成像信噪比高等特点使其在实际应用中具有独特的优势。本文主要介绍了THz QCL器件及其实时成像系统的研究进展,采用超半球高阻硅透镜改善了THz QCL的输出激光,实现了准高斯光束输出,搭建了基于二维摆镜消干涉技术的THz实时成像系统,单帧成像光斑面积45mm×30 mm,实现了对刀片、药片的实时成像演示,成像分辨率优于0.5 mm;最后对成像系统激光源、成像光路和探测端的改进以及成像效果的改善方面进行了综述,并探讨了THz实时成像系统未来的发展趋势及其在材料分析和生物医学成像方面的应用前景。     

基于太赫兹量子级联激光器的无线信号传输的实现

文章采用连续波激射的太赫兹量子级联激光器(THz QCL) 为发射端、光谱匹配的THz量子阱探测器(THz QWP) 为接收端, 搭建了基于THz波的无线传输演示系统. 测量并分析了该演示系统的传输带宽. 采用搭建的无线传输系统演示了基于4.13 THz电磁波的图片文件的无线传输过程, 得到了与源文件一致的结果, 验证了采用THz QCL和THz QWP进行THz信号无线传输的可行性.最后, 分析了演示系统的传输速率, 给出了提高系统传输速率的方法.     

基于室温脉冲工作量子级联激光器的脉间光谱技术研究

量子级联(QC)激光器是唯一能在室温产生中红外辐射的半导体激光器。它的宽调谐范围、高输出功率和单模工作的特性,使得它非常适用于高分辨率光谱分析。结合中红外光谱区是气体分子的基频强吸收特性,基于室温脉冲工作的量子级联激光器的吸收光谱检测技术以其灵敏度高、选择性强及响应快速等特点,成为痕量气体探测的有效方法。介绍了基于分布式量子级联激光器的脉间光谱技术,通过分析比较不同工作参数下的激光光谱信号,寻求最佳的激光器工作参数,并且在选定的工作参数下对目标气体的吸收谱线进行测量,得到了中心在2178.2cm-1附近的N2O的吸收谱线。     

Fast,real-time spectrometer based on a pulsed quantum-cascade laser

We describe a mid-infrared spectrometer that is based on the combination of a multiple-pass absorption cell and a submicrosecond pulsed quantum-cascade laser. The spectrometer is capable of both making sensitive measurements and providing a real-time display of the spectral fingerprint of molecular vapors. For a cell with a path length of 9.6 m, dilution measurements made of the nu9 band transitions of 1,1-difluoroethylene indicate a sensitivity of 500 parts in 10(9), corresponding to a fractional absorbance of 4 x 10(-4).     

半绝缘等离子体波导太赫兹量子级联激光器工艺研究

采用气态源分子束外延设备生长了GaAs/AlGaAs束缚态到连续态跃迁结构的太赫兹（THz）量子级联激光器（QCL）有源区结构,研究了半绝缘等离子体波导THz QCL的器件工艺,采用远红外傅里叶变换光谱仪以及探测器测量了器件的电光特性.器件激射频率为32 THz,10 K下的阈值电流密度为275 A/cm². 关键词： 太赫兹 量子级联激光器 波导 器件工艺     

Perfectly phase-matched third-order distributed feedback terahertz quantum-cascade lasers

We report a novel laser cavity design in third-order distributed feedback (DFB) terahertz quantum-cascade lasers based on a perfectly phase-matching technique. This approach substantially increases the usable length of the third-order DFB laser and leads to narrow beam patterns. Single frequency emissions from 151 apertures (5.6 mm long device) are coherently added up to form a narrow beam with (FWHM≈6×11°) divergence. A similar device with 40 apertures shows more than 5 mW of optical power with slope efficiency ～140 mW/A at 10 K pulsed operation.     

太赫兹量子级联激光器材料生长及表征

采用气态源分子束外延方法生长了束缚态到连续态跃迁太赫兹量子级联激光器（terahertz quantum-cascade laser,简称THz QCL）有源区结构,并且采用电化学CV仪、霍尔测试仪以及高分辨X射线衍射对材料的质量进行表征,得出THz QCL有源区具有很高的晶体质量.另外,采用蒙特卡罗方法模拟了共振声子THz QCL器件的I-V曲线,分析了在不同偏压下子能级的对齐状况和电子的输运特征. 关键词： 太赫兹 量子级联激光器 分子束外延 X射线衍射     

Mid-infrared external-cavity quantum-cascade laser

Single-frequency operation of a 10.4-mum room-temperature multimode quantum-cascade laser was achieved by use of a 17-mm short Littrow-type external-cavity configuration. The spectral intensity of the external-cavity laser was increased as much as 20-fold compared with that of a multimode quantum-cascade laser without an external cavity. A single-frequency tuning range of 76 nm (7 cm(-1)) was achieved. The results were obtained without antireflection coating of the laser output facet.     

Distributed-feedback terahertz quantum-cascade lasers with laterally corrugated metal waveguides

We report the demonstration of distributed-feedback terahertz quantum-cascade lasers based on a first-order grating fabricated via a lateral corrugation in a double-sided metal ridge waveguide. The phase of the facet reflection was precisely set by lithographically defined facets by dry etching. Single-mode emission was observed at low to moderate injection currents, although multimode emission was observed far beyond threshold owing to spatial hole burning. Finite-element simulations were used to calculate the modal and threshold characteristics for these devices, with results in good agreement with experiments.     

Application of terahertz quantum-cascade lasers to semiconductor cyclotron resonance

Quantum-cascade lasers operating at 4.7, 3.5, and 2.3 THz have been used to achieve cyclotron resonance in InAs and InSb quantum wells from liquid-helium temperatures to room temperature. This represents one of the first spectroscopic applications of terahertz quantum-cascade lasers. Results show that these compact lasers are convenient and reliable sources with adequate power and stability for this type of far-infrared magneto-optical study of solids. Their compactness promises interesting future applications in solid-state spectroscopy.     

Open-path ozone detection by quantum-cascade laser

Open-path ozone measurements performed by mid-IR differential absorption spectroscopy are reported. Ozone spectrum was taken by fast repetitive sweeping of a quantum-cascade laser wavelength over a spectral feature from the ν₃ absorption band of ozone, centered at 1031.2 cm^-1. Short (100 ns) sweeping times were essential to prevent line-distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence. For fast wavelength sweeping, a technique that employed the thermal chirp during 140 ns excitation pulses was used. The lowest detection limit of 0.3 ppm.m was estimated from the minimum detectable differential absorption. We present the results from cell and open-path measurements over 440 and 5800 m, together with experimental data regarding the tuning range, the tuning rate and the tuning linearity of the QCL while operated with 140 ns excitation pulses. PACS 42.62.Fi; 82.80.Gk; 92.60.Sz     

Frequency-comb-referenced quantum-cascade laser at 4.4 microm

We report what we believe to be the first absolute frequency measurement performed using a quantum-cascade laser (QCL) referenced to an optical frequency comb synthesizer (OFCS). A QCL at 4.43 microm has been used for producing near-infrared radiation at 858 nm by means of sum-frequency generation with a Nd:YAG source in a periodically poled lithium niobate nonlinear crystal. The absolute frequency of the QCL source has been measured by detecting the beat note between the sum frequency and a diode laser at the same wavelength, while both the Nd:YAG and the diode laser were referenced to the OFCS. Doppler-broadened line profiles of (13)CO(2) molecular transitions have been recorded with such an absolute frequency reference.     

基于共面传输线的太赫兹片上系统的研究

太赫兹片上系统是将太赫兹的产生、传输和探测都集中在一个几平方厘米的基片上,线宽及间距达到微米量级,具有集成化程度高、系统尺寸小、稳定性好以及操作简便的特点,有利于与微量样品检测技术相互结合。研究采用HFSS软件对共面波导和共面带状线两种太赫兹共面传输线进行了仿真计算,通过优化传输线的宽度、长度、基底的厚度等关键几何参数确定出最佳的传输线结构;研究工作重点对太赫兹波段的共面带状线结构进行了设计和优化,实现了在介电常数很小的BCB基底上的低损耗传输。所得到的最佳结构参数为线宽及间距均为20μm,此结构为后续片上系统实物芯片的制作提供了参数依据。     

Subwavelength terahertz spin-flip laser based on a magnetic point-contact array

We present a theoretical design for a single-mode, truly subwavelength terahertz disk laser based on a nanocomposite gain medium comprising an array of normal-metal/ferromagnetic (FM) point contacts embedded in a thin dielectric layer. Stimulated emission of light occurs due to spin-flip relaxation of spin-polarized electrons injected from the FM side of the contacts. Ultrahigh electrical current densities in the contacts and a dielectric material with a large refractive index, neither condition being achievable in conventional semiconductor media, enables the thresholds of lasing to be overcome for the lowest-order modes of the disk, making single-mode operation possible.     

Circumventing the Manley-Rowe quantum efficiency limit in an optically pumped terahertz quantum-cascade amplifier

Using a microscopic theory based on the Maxwell-semiconductor Bloch equations, we investigate the feasibility of an optically pumped electrically driven terahertz (THz) quantum-cascade laser as a pathway to room-temperature THz generation. In optical conversion schemes the power conversion efficiency is limited by the Manley-Rowe relation. We circumvent this constraint by incorporating an electrical bias in a four level intersubband scheme, thereby allowing coherent recovery of the optical pump energy. The observed THz radiation is generated through both stimulated emission and automatically phase-matched quantum coherence contributions--making the proposed approach both a promising source for THz radiation and a model system for quantum coherence effects such as lasing without inversion and electromagnetically induced transparency.     

Electrically pumped terahertz laser based on a topological insulator quantum dot array

The energy level separation between the edge states in topological insulator quantum dots lies in the terahertz(THz) range.Quantum confinement ensures the nonuniformity of the energy level separation near the Dirac point. Based on these features, we propose that a topological insulator quantum dot array can be operated as an electrically pumped continuous-wave THz laser. The proposed device can operate at room temperature, with power exceeding 10 mW and quantum efficiency reaching ~50%. This study may promote the usage of topological insulator quantum dots as an important source of THz radiation.