Multi-line lasing in the broadly tunable ammonia quantum cascade laser pumped molecular laser
Abstract
Gaseous ammonia has previously been demonstrated as a compelling gain medium for a quantum cascade laser pumped molecular laser (QPML) exhibiting good power efficiency. Here, we explore the potential of the ammonia QPML to produce powerful, broadly tunable terahertz frequency lasing on rotational and pure inversion transitions. After theoretically predicting possible laser frequencies, pump thresholds, and efficiencies, we experimentally demonstrate unprecedented tunability—from 0.763 to 4.459 THz—by pumping Q- and R-branch infrared transitions with widely tunable quantum cascade lasers. We additionally demonstrate two types of multi-line lasing: simultaneous pure inversion and rotation–inversion transitions from the same pumped rotational state and cascaded lasing involving transitions below the pumped rotational state. We report single frequency power levels as great as 0.45 mW from a low volume laser cavity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 21, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1063/5.0079219
Entities
People
- Arman Amirzhan
- Federico Capasso
- H. Ted Stinson
- Henry O. Everitt
- Jeremy Rowlette
- Michael Pushkarsky
- Paul Chevalier
- Timothy Day
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- Duke University
- Harvard University