A high-efficiency regime for gas-phase terahertz lasers
Abstract
Optically pumped far-infrared (OPFIR) lasers are one of the most powerful continuous-wave terahertz sources. However, such lasers have long been thought to have intrinsically low efficiency and large sizes. Moreover, all previous theoretical models failed to predict even qualitatively the experimental performance at high pressures. Here, we have developed an innovative model that captures the full physics of the lasing process and correctly predicts the behavior in the high-pressure regime. Validated against experiments, our model shows that nearly all previous OPFIR lasers were operating in the wrong regime and that 10 × greater efficiency is possible by redesigning the terahertz cavity. Our results reintroduce the use of OPFIR lasers as a powerful and compact source of terahertz radiation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 11, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1803261115
Entities
People
- Dane J. Phillips
- Fan Wang
- Henry O. Everitt
- Jeongwon Lee
- John D. Joannopoulos
- Jorge Bravo-abad
- Marin Soljačić
- Samuel G. Holliday
- Song-liang Chua
- Steven G. Johnson
Organizations
- Autonomous University of Madrid
- Duke University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness
- National Science Foundation
- United States Army Research Laboratory