CAREER: Terahertz semiconductor laser sources for operation above cryogenic temperatures

提案ECCS 1150071项目摘要本提案的研究目标是基于单片和电压可调谐超材料波导的广泛和连续可调谐太赫兹量子级联激光器和其他有源器件的研究和发展。这些波导基于传输线超材料概念，其中色散关系通过集成电容元件的电控制来调谐。目标包括演示各种配置的广泛可调谐太赫兹激光源，包括可调谐分布式反馈激光器，可调谐主振荡器功率放大器和光束可控相控阵太赫兹激光发射器。智力优点智力优点是可调超材料概念与激光波导的集成，其中传播敏感地依赖于嵌入式电路元件的值。这种方法可以实现比使用温度或其他电气技术所能实现的更宽范围的可调谐性，具有高度的单片集成。放大器和分布式反馈配置的演示将允许输出功率缩放到几毫瓦或更大的定向光束模式。更广泛的影响更广泛的影响在于开发一种实现可调谐半导体激光器的新方法。此外，太赫兹技术需要改进的源和检测器，用于感测、成像和光谱学。教育计划的核心是通过协调宣传，推广和培训计划的发展，以及直接雇用本科生在这项研究中，以加强电气工程系内的本科生研究。多个校园资源将被利用，以吸引和资助代表性不足的少数民族学生这项研究和工程一般。

Proposal ECCS 1150071Project AbstractObjectiveThe research objective of this proposal is the investigation and development of widely and continuously tunable terahertz quantum-cascade lasers and other active devices based upon monolithic and voltage tunable metamaterial waveguides. These waveguides are based on the transmission-line metamaterial concept in which the dispersion relation is tuned by electrical control of integrated capacitive elements. Goals include demonstration of widely tunable terahertz laser sources in various configurations, including tunable distributed feedback lasers, tunable master-oscillator power-amplifiers, and beam-steerable phased-array THz laser emitters. Intellectual MeritThe intellectual merit is the integration of tunable metamaterial concepts with laser waveguides, in which propagation is sensitively dependent on values of embedded circuit elements. This approach can achieve a much wider range of tunability than can be achieved using temperature or other electrical techniques, with a high degree of monolithic integration. The demonstration of amplifier and distributed feedback configurations will allow the output power to be scaled to several milliwatts or greater with a directive beam pattern. Broader ImpactsThe broader impacts lie in the development of a new approach for achieving tunable semiconductor lasers. Additionally, terahertz technology requires improved sources and detectors for sensing, imaging, and spectroscopy. The core of the educational plan is to enhance undergraduate research within the Electrical Engineering department through the development of a coordinated publicity, outreach, and training program, as well as directly employing undergraduates in this research. Multiple campus resources will be leveraged to attract and fund underrepresented minority students to this research and engineering in general.