External cavity quantum cascade lasers with ultra rapid acousto-optic tuning

Abstract

We report operation of tunable external cavity quantum cascade lasers with emission wavelength controlled by an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). A long-wave infrared quantum cascade laser wavelength tuned from ∼8.5 μm to ∼9.8 μm when the AOM frequency was changed from ∼41MHz to ∼49 MHz. The laser delivered over 350 mW of average power at the center of the tuning curve in a linewidth of ∼4.7 cm−1. Measured wavelength switching time between any two wavelengths within the tuning range of the QCL was less than 1 μs. Spectral measurements of infrared absorption features of Freon demonstrated a capability of obtaining complete spectral data in less than 20 μs.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 06, 2015
Source ID
10.1063/1.4917241

Entities

People

  • Arkadiy Lyakh
  • C. Kumar N. Patel
  • I. Dunayevskiy
  • R. Barron-jimenez
  • R. Go

Organizations

  • Army Research Office

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Quantum Computing