The frequency-noise power spectral density of a room-temperature distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser emitting at λ = 4.36 μm has been measured. An intrinsic linewidth value of 260 Hz is retrieved, in reasonable agreement with theoretical calculations. A noise reduction of about a factor 200 in most of the frequency interval is also found, with respect to a cryogenic laser at the same wavelength. A quantitative treatment shows that it can be explained by a temperature-dependent mechanism governing the transport processes in resonant tunnelling devices. This confirms the predominant effect of the heterostructure in determining shape and magnitude of the frequency noise spectrum in QCLs.

© 2011 OSA

1. S. Bartalini, S. Borri, P. Cancio, A. Castrillo, I. Galli, G. Giusfredi, D. Mazzotti, L. Gianfrani, and P. De Natale, “Observing the intrinsic linewidth of a quantum-cascade laser: beyond the Schawlow–Townes limit,” Phys. Rev. Lett.104, 083904 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. J. Faist, F. Capasso, D. L. Sivco, C. Sirtori, A. L. Hutchinson, and A. Y. Cho, “Quantum cascade laser,” Science264, 553–556 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. C. Henry, “Theory of the linewidth of semiconductor lasers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.18, 259–264 (1982). [CrossRef]
4. M. Yamanishi, T. Edamura, K. Fujita, N. Akikusa, and H. Kan, “Theory of the intrinsic linewidth of quantum-cascade lasers: hidden reason for the narrow linewidth and line-broadening by thermal photons,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.44, 12–29 (2008). [CrossRef]
5. D. S. Elliott, R. Roy, and S. J. Smith, “Extracavity laser band-shape and bandwidth modification,” Phys. Rev. A26, 12–18 (1982). [CrossRef]
6. S. Borri, S. Bartalini, P. Cancio, I. Galli, G. Giusfredi, D. Mazzotti, M. Yamanishi, and P. De Natale, “Frequency-noise dynamics of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.47, 984–988 (2011). [CrossRef]
7. R. M. Williams, J. F. Kelly, J. S. Hartman, S. W. Sharpe, M. S. Taubman, J. L. Hall, F. Capasso, C. Gmachl, D. L. Sivco, J. N. Baillargeon, and A. Y. Cho, “Kilohertz linewidth from frequency-stabilized mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers,” Opt. Lett.24, 1844–1846 (1999). [CrossRef]
8. T. L. Myers, R. M. Williams, M. S. Taubman, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D. L. Sivco, J. N. Baillargeon, and A. Y. Cho, “Free-running frequency stability of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers,” Opt. Lett.27, 170–172 (2002). [CrossRef]
9. K. Fujita, T. Edamura, N. Akikusa, A. Sugiyama, T. Ochiai, S. Furuta, A. Ito, M. Yamanishi, and H. Kan, “Quantum cascade lasers based on single phonon-continuum depopulation structures,” Proc. SPIE7230, 723016 (2009). [CrossRef]
10. K. Fujita, S. Furuta, A. Sugiyama, T. Ochiai, T. Edamura, N. Akikusa, M. Yamanishi, and H. Kan, “Room temperature, continuous-wave operation of quantum cascade lasers with single phonon resonance-continuum depopulation structures grown by metal organic vapor-phase epitaxy,” Appl. Phys. Lett.91, 141121 (2007). [CrossRef]
11. K. Fujita, S. Furuta, A. Sugiyama, T. Ochiai, T. Edamura, N. Akikusa, M. Yamanishi, and H. Kan, “High-performance λ ∼ 8.6 μm quantum cascade lasers with single phonon-continuum depopulation structures,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.46, 683–688 (2010). [CrossRef]
12. K. G. Libbrecht and J. L. Hall, “A low-noise high-speed diode laser current controller,” Rev. Sci. Instrum.64, 2133–2135 (1993). [CrossRef]
13. J. S. Yu, S. Slivken, A. Evans, L. Doris, and M. Razeghi, “High-power continuous-wave operation of a 6 μm quantum-cascade laser at room temperature,” Appl. Phys. Lett.83, 2503–2505 (2003). [CrossRef]
14. A. Vasanelli, A. Leuliet, C. Sirtori, A. Wade, G. Fedorov, D. Smirnov, G. Bastard, B. Vinter, M. Giovannini, and J. Faist, “Role of elastic scattering mechanisms in GaInAs/AlInAs quantum cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett., 89, 172120 (2006). [CrossRef]
15. K. Fujita, M. Yamanishi, T. Edamura, A. Sugiyama, and S. Furuta, “Extremely high T0-values (≃450 K) of long-wavelength (≃ 15 μm), low-threshold-current-density quantum-cascade lasers based on the indirect pump scheme,” Appl. Phys. Lett.97, 201109 (2010).
16. D. Hofstetter, M. Beck, T. Aellen, and J. Faist, “High-temperature operation of distributed feedback quantum-cascade lasers at 5.3 μm,” Appl. Phys. Lett.78, 396–398 (2001). [CrossRef]
17. M. S. Vitiello, T. Gresch, A. Lops, V. Spagnolo, G. Scamarcio, N. Hoyler, M. Giovannini, and J. Faist, “Influence of InAs, AlAs δ layers on the optical, electronic, and thermal characteristics of strain-compensated GaInAs/AlInAs quantum-cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett.91, 161111 (2007). [CrossRef]
18. M. S. Vitiello, G. Scamarcio, and V. Spagnolo, “Temperature dependence of thermal conductivity and boundary resistance in THz quantum cascade lasers,” IEEE J. Select Top. Quantum Electron.14, 431–435 (2008). [CrossRef]
19. M. S. Vitiello, V. Spagnolo, G. Scamarcio, A. Lops, Q. Yang, C. Manz, and J. Wagner, “Experimental investigation of the lattice and electronic temperatures in Ga0.47In0.53As/Al0.62Ga0.38As1–xSbx quantum-cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett.90, 121109 (2007). [CrossRef]
20. G. Giusfredi, S. Bartalini, S. Borri, P. Cancio, I. Galli, D. Mazzotti, and P. De Natale, “Saturated-absorption cavity ring-down spectroscopy,” Phys. Rev. Lett.104, 110801 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
21. S. Bartalini, S. Borri, and P. De Natale, “Doppler-free polarization spectroscopy with a quantum cascade laser at 4.3 μm,” Opt. Express17, 7440–7449 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
22. M. S. Taubman, T. L. Myers, B. D. Cannon, R. M. Williams, F. Capasso, C. Gmachl, D. L. Sivco, and A. Y. Cho , “Frequency stabilization of quantum cascade lasers by use of optical cavities” Opt. Lett.27, 2164–2166 (2002). [CrossRef]
23. G. Di Domenico, S. Schilt, and P. Thomann, “Simple approach to the relation between laser frequency noise and laser line shape,” Appl. Opt.49, 4801–4807 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Opt.

• G. Di Domenico, S. Schilt, and P. Thomann, “Simple approach to the relation between laser frequency noise and laser line shape,” Appl. Opt.49, 4801–4807 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• J. S. Yu, S. Slivken, A. Evans, L. Doris, and M. Razeghi, “High-power continuous-wave operation of a 6 μm quantum-cascade laser at room temperature,” Appl. Phys. Lett.83, 2503–2505 (2003). [CrossRef]
• A. Vasanelli, A. Leuliet, C. Sirtori, A. Wade, G. Fedorov, D. Smirnov, G. Bastard, B. Vinter, M. Giovannini, and J. Faist, “Role of elastic scattering mechanisms in GaInAs/AlInAs quantum cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett., 89, 172120 (2006). [CrossRef]
• K. Fujita, M. Yamanishi, T. Edamura, A. Sugiyama, and S. Furuta, “Extremely high T0-values (≃450 K) of long-wavelength (≃ 15 μm), low-threshold-current-density quantum-cascade lasers based on the indirect pump scheme,” Appl. Phys. Lett.97, 201109 (2010).
• D. Hofstetter, M. Beck, T. Aellen, and J. Faist, “High-temperature operation of distributed feedback quantum-cascade lasers at 5.3 μm,” Appl. Phys. Lett.78, 396–398 (2001). [CrossRef]
• M. S. Vitiello, T. Gresch, A. Lops, V. Spagnolo, G. Scamarcio, N. Hoyler, M. Giovannini, and J. Faist, “Influence of InAs, AlAs δ layers on the optical, electronic, and thermal characteristics of strain-compensated GaInAs/AlInAs quantum-cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett.91, 161111 (2007). [CrossRef]
• K. Fujita, S. Furuta, A. Sugiyama, T. Ochiai, T. Edamura, N. Akikusa, M. Yamanishi, and H. Kan, “Room temperature, continuous-wave operation of quantum cascade lasers with single phonon resonance-continuum depopulation structures grown by metal organic vapor-phase epitaxy,” Appl. Phys. Lett.91, 141121 (2007). [CrossRef]
• M. S. Vitiello, V. Spagnolo, G. Scamarcio, A. Lops, Q. Yang, C. Manz, and J. Wagner, “Experimental investigation of the lattice and electronic temperatures in Ga0.47In0.53As/Al0.62Ga0.38As1–xSbx quantum-cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett.90, 121109 (2007). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

• K. Fujita, S. Furuta, A. Sugiyama, T. Ochiai, T. Edamura, N. Akikusa, M. Yamanishi, and H. Kan, “High-performance λ ∼ 8.6 μm quantum cascade lasers with single phonon-continuum depopulation structures,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.46, 683–688 (2010). [CrossRef]
• C. Henry, “Theory of the linewidth of semiconductor lasers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.18, 259–264 (1982). [CrossRef]
• M. Yamanishi, T. Edamura, K. Fujita, N. Akikusa, and H. Kan, “Theory of the intrinsic linewidth of quantum-cascade lasers: hidden reason for the narrow linewidth and line-broadening by thermal photons,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.44, 12–29 (2008). [CrossRef]
• S. Borri, S. Bartalini, P. Cancio, I. Galli, G. Giusfredi, D. Mazzotti, M. Yamanishi, and P. De Natale, “Frequency-noise dynamics of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.47, 984–988 (2011). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Select Top. Quantum Electron.

• M. S. Vitiello, G. Scamarcio, and V. Spagnolo, “Temperature dependence of thermal conductivity and boundary resistance in THz quantum cascade lasers,” IEEE J. Select Top. Quantum Electron.14, 431–435 (2008). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• S. Bartalini, S. Borri, and P. De Natale, “Doppler-free polarization spectroscopy with a quantum cascade laser at 4.3 μm,” Opt. Express17, 7440–7449 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• M. S. Taubman, T. L. Myers, B. D. Cannon, R. M. Williams, F. Capasso, C. Gmachl, D. L. Sivco, and A. Y. Cho , “Frequency stabilization of quantum cascade lasers by use of optical cavities” Opt. Lett.27, 2164–2166 (2002). [CrossRef]
• R. M. Williams, J. F. Kelly, J. S. Hartman, S. W. Sharpe, M. S. Taubman, J. L. Hall, F. Capasso, C. Gmachl, D. L. Sivco, J. N. Baillargeon, and A. Y. Cho, “Kilohertz linewidth from frequency-stabilized mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers,” Opt. Lett.24, 1844–1846 (1999). [CrossRef]
• T. L. Myers, R. M. Williams, M. S. Taubman, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D. L. Sivco, J. N. Baillargeon, and A. Y. Cho, “Free-running frequency stability of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers,” Opt. Lett.27, 170–172 (2002). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. A

• D. S. Elliott, R. Roy, and S. J. Smith, “Extracavity laser band-shape and bandwidth modification,” Phys. Rev. A26, 12–18 (1982). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• S. Bartalini, S. Borri, P. Cancio, A. Castrillo, I. Galli, G. Giusfredi, D. Mazzotti, L. Gianfrani, and P. De Natale, “Observing the intrinsic linewidth of a quantum-cascade laser: beyond the Schawlow–Townes limit,” Phys. Rev. Lett.104, 083904 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• G. Giusfredi, S. Bartalini, S. Borri, P. Cancio, I. Galli, D. Mazzotti, and P. De Natale, “Saturated-absorption cavity ring-down spectroscopy,” Phys. Rev. Lett.104, 110801 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Proc. SPIE

• K. Fujita, T. Edamura, N. Akikusa, A. Sugiyama, T. Ochiai, S. Furuta, A. Ito, M. Yamanishi, and H. Kan, “Quantum cascade lasers based on single phonon-continuum depopulation structures,” Proc. SPIE7230, 723016 (2009). [CrossRef]

Rev. Sci. Instrum.

• K. G. Libbrecht and J. L. Hall, “A low-noise high-speed diode laser current controller,” Rev. Sci. Instrum.64, 2133–2135 (1993). [CrossRef]

Other

• J. Faist, F. Capasso, D. L. Sivco, C. Sirtori, A. L. Hutchinson, and A. Y. Cho, “Quantum cascade laser,” Science264, 553–556 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

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