High-Temperature Operation of Terahertz Quantum Cascade Laser Sources
High-Temperature Operation of Terahertz Quantum Cascade Laser Sources
复制标题
DOI：
10.1109/jstqe.2009.2013183
复制
发表时间：
2009-05-01
影响因子：
4.9
通讯作者：
Capasso, Federico
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Belkin, Mikhail A.;Wang, Qi Jie;Capasso, Federico
太赫兹（THz）量子级联激光器（QCL）是目前在1- 5THz光谱范围内最先进的电泵浦半导体激光器。然而，它们在室温下的操作仍然是一个悬而未决的挑战。在本文中，我们讨论了我们的努力，以提高这些设备的温度性能。特别是，我们介绍了接近热电冷却操作的THz QCL，并讨论了限制其高温性能的因素。我们还讨论了一种不同类型的太赫兹QCL源，产生相干太赫兹辐射没有整个太赫兹跃迁的粒子数反转。这些器件基于双波长中红外QCL的腔内差频产生，现在可以提供高达室温的微瓦级相干THz辐射。我们将讨论如何进一步提高这些器件的输出功率，以在室温下产生毫瓦级的太赫兹辐射。
Terahertz (THz) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are currently the most advanced electrically pumped semiconductor lasers in the spectral range 1-5 THz. However, their operation at room temperature is still an unresolved challenge. In this paper, we discuss our efforts to improve the temperature performance of these devices. In particular, we present THz QCLs that approach thermoelectric cooled operation and discuss factors that limit their high-temperature performance. We also discuss a different type of THz QCL source that produces coherent THz radiation without population inversion across the THz transition. These devices are based on intracavity difference-frequency generation in dual-wavelength mid-IR QCLs, and can now provide microwatt levels of coherent THz radiation up to room temperature. We discuss how the output power of these devices can be further improved to produce milliwatts of THz radiation at room temperature.