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Low divergence Terahertz photonic-wire laser.
Maria I Amanti1, Giacomo Scalari, Fabrizio Castellano
1ETH Zurich, Institute for Quantum Electronics, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 16, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland. amanti@phys.ethz.ch
Optics Express
|April 15, 2010
Summary
New terahertz quantum cascade photonic-wire lasers offer low power consumption and high output. These edge-emitting devices demonstrate efficient single-frequency operation, paving the way for advanced terahertz applications.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Electrical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are crucial for generating terahertz (THz) radiation.
- Photonic-wire structures offer enhanced light confinement and efficiency in semiconductor devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present novel edge-emitting, terahertz quantum cascade photonic-wire lasers.
- To investigate the performance characteristics of these lasers, including power consumption, output power, and operating temperature.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of edge-emitting lasers based on a third-order Bragg grating.
- Characterization of device performance under continuous-wave (CW) operation at various temperatures.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of devices with power consumption as low as 300mW and single-frequency output power exceeding 1.5mW.
- Maximum operating temperature of 110K in CW mode with a narrow emission beam (~30 degrees divergence).
- Larger structures achieved over 10mW output power and >200mW/A slope efficiency at 10K CW operation.
Conclusions:
- The developed terahertz quantum cascade photonic-wire lasers exhibit promising performance for THz applications.
- The design enables efficient, low-power, and high-output THz emission.
- These devices represent a significant advancement in THz laser technology.
