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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 20, Iss. 26 — Dec. 10, 2012
  • pp: B306–B314

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 20 > Issue 26 > Page B306

Discrete mode tuning in terahertz quantum cascade lasers

Subhasish Chakraborty, Owen Marshall, Chen Wei Hsin, Md. Khairuzzaman, Harvey Beere, and David Ritchie  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 26, pp. B306-B314 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.00B306


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Abstract

A holographically designed, aperiodic distributed feedback grating is used as a multi-resonance filter and embedded within an existing Fabry-Pérot (FP) terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) cavity. Balancing the feedback strengths of the filter resonances and the FP cavity creates a system capable of a high degree of single-mode selectivity, which is sensitive to changes in driving current. Multi-moded QCLs operating around 2.9 THz are thus modified to achieve purely electronic discrete tuning spanning over 160 GHz with an average tuning resolution of 30 GHz. Applying the same multi-resonance filter to QCLs with gain peaks around 2.65 and 2.9 THz leads to dual-mode lasing with an electrically controlled frequency separation of between 190 and 267 GHz. A phase sensitive mode selection mechanism is experimentally confirmed by the observation of divergent fine-tuning of the lasing modes.

© 2012 OSA

OCIS Codes
(140.3070) Lasers and laser optics : Infrared and far-infrared lasers
(140.3490) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, distributed-feedback
(140.3600) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, tunable
(130.5296) Integrated optics : Photonic crystal waveguides
(250.5403) Optoelectronics : Plasmonics
(140.5965) Lasers and laser optics : Semiconductor lasers, quantum cascade

ToC Category:
Waveguide and Optoelectronic Devices

History
Original Manuscript: October 1, 2012
Manuscript Accepted: November 8, 2012
Published: November 29, 2012

Virtual Issues
European Conference on Optical Communication 2012 (2012) Optics Express

Citation
Subhasish Chakraborty, Owen Marshall, Chen Wei Hsin, Md. Khairuzzaman, Harvey Beere, and David Ritchie, "Discrete mode tuning in terahertz quantum cascade lasers," Opt. Express 20, B306-B314 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-26-B306


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