Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
08:48
Low-cost Custom Fabrication and Mode-locked Operation of an All-normal-dispersion Femtosecond Fiber Laser for Multiphoton Microscopy
Published on: November 22, 2019
Electric field sampling of modelocked pulses from a quantum cascade laser
Joshua R Freeman1, Jean Maysonnave, Harvey E Beere
1Laboratoire Pierre Aigrain, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS (UMR 8551), Université P. et M. Curie, Université D. Diderot, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France. freeman@lpa.ens.fr
Optics Express
|July 12, 2013
Summary
Researchers precisely measured the electric field of quantum cascade laser pulses using electro-optic sampling. This technique fully characterizes ultrashort pulses, revealing amplitude, phase, and carrier-envelope phase information.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Quantum Electronics
Background:
- Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are crucial semiconductor sources for terahertz (THz) applications.
- Characterizing the electric field of ultrashort pulses is essential for understanding and utilizing nonlinear optical phenomena.
- Previous methods often lacked the resolution or direct time-domain access needed for complete pulse characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a time-domain electro-optic sampling technique for measuring the electric field of mode-locked quantum cascade laser pulses.
- To achieve sub-picosecond resolution for comprehensive pulse characterization.
- To determine the amplitude and phase of individual cavity modes and the carrier-envelope phase of each pulse.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing electro-optic sampling synchronized to a reference laser.
- Applying the technique to 15-picosecond (ps) pulses from a 2-terahertz (THz) actively mode-locked quantum cascade laser.
- Achieving sub-picosecond resolution for precise electric field measurements.
Main Results:
- Complete characterization of the electric field of the mode-locked QCL pulses in both amplitude and time.
- Determination of the amplitude and phase of each cavity mode.
- Successful access to the carrier-envelope phase of individual pulses.
Conclusions:
- Electro-optic sampling provides a powerful method for time-domain characterization of ultrashort pulses from THz quantum cascade lasers.
- The technique enables detailed analysis of pulse properties, including amplitude, phase, and carrier-envelope phase.
- This detailed characterization is vital for advancing applications relying on precise control of THz radiation.
