Double-metal waveguide terahertz difference-frequency generation quantum cascade lasers with surface grating outcouplers

Abstract

We report terahertz quantum cascade laser (QCL) sources based on intra-cavity difference-frequency generation processed into double-metal waveguides with surface-grating outcouplers. This configuration enables high confinement of the terahertz mode in the device active region and efficient surface extraction of terahertz radiation along the entire length of the waveguide. The devices operate at room temperature at 1.9 THz and produce over 110 μW of peak power output with the mid-infrared-to-terahertz conversion of 150 μW/W2. The results represent at least a factor of 2 improvement in the performance compared to the best Cherenkov difference-frequency generation QCL devices operating below 2 THz.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 15, 2018
Source ID
10.1063/1.5043095

Entities

People

  • Akio Ito
  • Jae Hyun Kim
  • Kazuue Fujita
  • Masahiro Hitaka
  • Mikhail A. Belkin
  • Seungyong Jung
  • Tadataka Edamura
  • Yifan Jiang

Organizations

  • Army Research Office
  • Kwanjeong Educational Foundation
  • National Science Foundation
  • University of Texas at Austin

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Quantum Computing