Abstract
We present the current status of high-performance, compact, THz sources based on intracavity nonlinear frequency generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers. Significant performance improvements of our THz sources in the power and wall plug efficiency are achieved by systematic optimizing the device’s active region, waveguide, and chip bonding strategy. High THz power up to 1.9 mW and 0.014 mW for pulsed mode and continuous wave operations at room temperature are demonstrated, respectively. Even higher power and efficiency are envisioned based on enhancements in outcoupling efficiency and mid-IR performance. Our compact THz device with high power and wide tuning range is highly suitable for imaging, sensing, spectroscopy, medical diagnosis, and many other applications.
Highlights
Terahertz (1–10 THz, and λ = 30–300 μm) frequencies are among the most underdeveloped electromagnetic spectra, even though their potential applications are promising, such as in the detection of chemical and biological agents, imaging for medical and security applications, astrophysics, remote sensing, non-invasive inspection, and free-space communication [1]
quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), still need cryogenic cooling the via difference-frequency generation generation (DFG) [6]
THz QCLs, which stillwhich need cryogenic cooling [8,9,10,11], the[8,9,10,11], operating operating temperature of THz source is by only the which mid-IRcan
Summary
The power level of these devices decreases rapidly as the frequency increases above 1 THz. Photonic devices based on interband transitions on the near-infrared and optical frequency side are limited to their energy gap, which is normally greater than 10 THz, even for narrow-gap lead-salt materials. Photonic devices based on interband transitions on the near-infrared and optical frequency side are limited to their energy gap, which is normally greater than 10 THz, even for narrow-gap lead-salt materials These conventional semiconductor devices that have been well developed are no longer able to produce comparable power in this frequency range, leaving a “THz gap” of ~1–10 THz in the development of electromagnetic spectra.
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