Integration Of Quantum Cascade Lasers Research Articles

Grating-Coupled Silicon-on-Sapphire Polarization Rotator Operating at Mid-Infrared Wavelengths

We provide an experimental demonstration of mid-infrared polarization rotators built on a silicon-on-sapphire platform at the mid-infrared wavelength of $4.55~\mu \text{m}$ to enable integration of quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) and detectors with slotted photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) gas sensors for on-chip optical spectroscopy applications. The polarization rotators are essential to convert the preferentially transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light from a QCL to transverse electric (TE) polarization to interface with the preferential TE-guiding slotted PCW sensors. The polarization rotator consists of an adiabatic-tapered mode converter followed by a phase shifter and a multimode interferometer that effectively transfers energy from an input fundamental TM00 polarization to a first-order TE10 polarization that is then converted to the fundamental TE00 mode. Polarization-selective sub-wavelength grating couplers are designed and fabricated to effectively couple TE or TM polarizations at the designed wavelengths into and out of the polarization rotator device for efficient device characterization. TM00–TE10 conversion efficiency of 100% is simulated. Fabrication tolerances in the phase shifter result in an experimental 80:20 splitting ratio of the measured output TE00-polarized light between two output arms.

Lateral Heterogeneous Integration of Quantum Cascade Lasers

Broadband terahertz radiation potentially has extensive applications, ranging from personal health care to industrial quality control and security screening. While traditional methods for broadband terahertz generation rely on bulky and expensive mode-locked lasers, frequency combs based on quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) can provide an alternative compact, high power, wideband terahertz source. QCL frequency combs incorporating a heterogeneous gain medium design can obtain even greater spectral range by having multiple lasing transitions at different frequencies. However, despite their greater spectral coverage, the comparatively low gain from such gain media lowers the maximum operating temperature and power. Lateral heterogeneous integration offers the ability to cover an extensive spectral range while maintaining the competitive performance offered from each homogeneous gain media. Here, we present the first lateral heterogeneous design for broadband terahertz generation: by combining two different homo...

Quantum Cascade Lasers in Biomedical Infrared Imaging

Technological advances, namely the integration of quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) within an infrared (IR) microscope, are enabling the development of valuable label-free biomedical-imaging tools capable of targeting and detecting salient chemical species within practical clinical timeframes.

Integration of quantum cascade lasers and passive waveguides

We report on monolithic integration of active quantum cascade laser (QCL) materials with passive waveguides formed by using proton implantation. Proton implantation reduces the electron concentration in the QCL layers by creating deep levels that trap carriers. This strongly reduces the intersubband absorption and the free-carrier absorption in the gain region and surrounding layers, thus significantly reducing optical loss. We have measured loss as low as α = 0.33 cm−1 in λ = 9.6 μm wavelength proton-implanted QCL material. We have also demonstrated lasing in active-passive integrated waveguides. This simple integration technique is anticipated to enable low-cost fabrication in infrared photonic integrated circuits in the mid-infrared (λ ∼ 3–16 μm).

Terahertz optical modulator based on metamaterial split-ring resonators and graphene

The integration of quantum cascade lasers with devices capable of efficiently manipulating terahertz light represents a fundamental step for many different applications. Split-ring resonators, subwavelength metamaterial elements exhibiting broad resonances that are easily tuned lithographically, represent the ideal route to achieve such optical control of the incident light. We have realized a design based on the interplay between metallic split rings and the electronic properties of a graphene monolayer integrated into a single device. By acting on the doping level of graphene, an active modulation of the optical intensity was achieved in the frequency range between 2.2 and 3.1 THz, with a maximum modulation depth of 18%.

Nonlinear optics with quantum cascade lasers

We discuss new approaches to monolithic integration of quantum cascade lasers with resonant intersubband nonlinearities. We show that the proposed approaches can greatly enhance the performance of quantum cascade lasers and give rise to new functionalities. Examples considered include extreme frequency up-or down-conversion and wide-range electric tuning.

Fabrication methods for a quantum cascade photonic crystal surface emitting laser

Conventional quantum cascade (QC) lasers are intrinsically edge-emitting devices with mode confinement achieved via a standard mesa stripe configuration. Surface emission in edge emitting QC lasers has therefore necessitated redirecting the waveguided laser emission using a second order grating. This paper describes the methods used to fabricate a 2D photonic crystal (PC) structure with or without a central defect superimposed on an electrically pumped QC laser structure with the goal of achieving direct surface emission. A successful systematic study of PC hole radius and spacing was performed using e-beam lithography. This PC method offers the promise of a number of interesting applications, including miniaturization and integration of QC lasers.