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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 17, Iss. 9 — Apr. 27, 2009
  • pp: 7525–7532

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 17 > Issue 9 > Page 7525

Frequency stabilization of a single mode terahertz quantum cascade laser to the kilohertz level

Andriy A. Danylov, Thomas M. Goyette, Jerry Waldman, Michael J. Coulombe, Andrew J. Gatesman, Robert H. Giles, William D. Goodhue, Xifeng Qian, and William E. Nixon  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 17, Issue 9, pp. 7525-7532 (2009)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.007525


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Abstract

A simple analog locking circuit was shown to stabilize the beat signal between a 2.408 THz quantum cascade laser and a CH2DOH THz CO2 optically pumped molecular laser to 3–4 kHz (FWHM). This is approximately a tenth of the observed long-term (t ~ sec) linewidth of the optically pumped laser showing that the feedback loop corrects for much of the mechanical and acoustic-induced frequency jitter of the gas laser. The achieved stability should be sufficient to enable the use of THz quantum cascade lasers as transmitters in short-range coherent transceivers.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

OCIS Codes
(040.2840) Detectors : Heterodyne
(300.3700) Spectroscopy : Linewidth
(140.3425) Lasers and laser optics : Laser stabilization
(140.5965) Lasers and laser optics : Semiconductor lasers, quantum cascade

ToC Category:
Lasers and Laser Optics

History
Original Manuscript: March 4, 2009
Revised Manuscript: April 15, 2009
Manuscript Accepted: April 19, 2009
Published: April 22, 2009

Citation
Andriy A. Danylov, Thomas M. Goyette, Jerry Waldman, Michael J. Coulombe, Andrew J. Gatesman, Robert H. Giles, William D. Goodhue, Xifeng Qian, and William E. Nixon, "Frequency stabilization of a single mode terahertz quantum cascade laser to the kilohertz level," Opt. Express 17, 7525-7532 (2009)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-17-9-7525


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