High power quantum cascade lasers for terahertz applications

用于太赫兹应用的高功率量子级联激光器

• 批准号: 1128562
• 负责人: Sushil Kumar
• 金额: $ 35.84万
• 依托单位: Lehigh University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1128562&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: power; quantum; cascade; lasers; terahertz

The objective of this program is to develop single-mode terahertz semiconductor lasers emitting more than hundred milliwatts of optical power in continuous-wave operation at liquid-nitrogen temperature, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that demonstrated previously. The gain medium will be comprised of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-cascade heterostructures. Such narrow-band terahertz sources have applications in areas as diverse as radio-astronomy, chemical and biological sensing, and imaging and spectroscopy for identification of concealed weapons, drugs, and explosives. The intellectual merit is in the use of novel waveguide architectures that combine techniques from microwave engineering with those of infrared distributed-feedback lasers. Phased-array antenna structures will be incorporated into semiconductor microcavities with the embedded quantum-cascade gain medium, made possible owing to the unique properties of terahertz radiation. A potentially transformative impact on the field of terahertz science and technology is envisioned by bringing terahertz quantum-cascade lasers out of the mold of research laboratories, to a situation where practical instruments could be built for important applications.The broader impacts are in providing education in the areas of nanophotonics, quantum-electronics, microfabrication, and terahertz technology to graduate and undergraduate students within a research environment. Elements of research will be incorporated into a new course on nanophotonics, and will also be showcased to create scientific interest among high-school students through participation in outreach activities. A program is in place to actively involve undergraduate students in the terahertz research activities in the laboratory. New research collaborations in the area of terahertz applications will be pursued across different institutions.

该计划的目标是开发单模太赫兹半导体激光器，在液氮温度下连续波操作时发射超过100毫瓦的光功率，这比先前演示的高两个数量级。增益介质将由GaAs/AlGaAs量子级联异质结构组成。这种窄带太赫兹源在射电天文学、化学和生物传感以及用于识别隐藏武器、毒品和爆炸物的成像和光谱学等多种领域都有应用。其智力上的优点在于使用了结合微波工程技术和红外分布反馈激光器技术的新型波导结构。相控阵天线结构将被整合到半导体微腔中，嵌入量子级联增益介质，由于太赫兹辐射的独特特性而成为可能。通过将太赫兹量子级联激光器从研究实验室的模式中带出来，可以为重要应用构建实用仪器，从而对太赫兹科学和技术领域产生潜在的变革性影响。更广泛的影响是在研究环境中为研究生和本科生提供纳米光子学，量子电子学，微制造和太赫兹技术领域的教育。研究的要素将被纳入纳米光子学的新课程，并将通过参与外展活动来展示，以引起高中生的科学兴趣。一个计划已经到位，积极参与本科生在实验室的太赫兹研究活动。在太赫兹应用领域的新研究合作将在不同的机构之间进行。