Orientation-patterned GaAs Research Articles

Terahertz-wave generation in quasi-phase-matched GaAs

The authors demonstrate an efficient room temperature source of terahertz radiation using femtosecond laser pulses as a pump and GaAs structures with periodically inverted crystalline orientation, such as diffusion-bonded stacked GaAs and epitaxially grown orientation-patterned GaAs, as a nonlinear optical medium. By changing the GaAs orientation-reversal period (504–1277μm), or the pump wavelength (2–4.4μm), we were able to generate narrow-bandwidth (∼100GHz) terahertz wave packets, tunable between 0.9 and 3THz, with the optical-to-terahertz photon conversion efficiency of 3.3%.

Long-wave IR chemical sensing based on difference frequency generation in orientation-patterned GaAs

The combination of continuous-wave difference frequency generation based on quasi-phase-matched (QPM) gallium arsenide with cavity ring-down spectroscopy is explored for use in spectroscopic and chemical sensing applications. The advent of QPM materials based on orientation-patterned GaAs (OP-GaAs) offers a significant advantage over traditional ferroelectric QPM materials of extended wavelength coverage into the spectroscopically important 8–12 μm region. In this work, the outputs from two tunable, external cavity diode lasers covering the 1.3 μm and 1.5 μm telecom bands were amplified then mixed in an orientation-patterned GaAs crystal, producing several microwatts of tunable radiation in the 7–9 μm region. We also evaluate the use of a low-power DFG source for use in cavity ring-down spectroscopy.

Optical parametric generation of a mid-infrared continuum in orientation-patterned GaAs

We have generated an ultrabroad mid-infrared continuum by using single-pass optical parametric generation (OPG) in orientation-patterned GaAs (OP-GaAs). The spectrum spans more than an octave, from 4.5 to 10.7 microm, measured 20 dB down from the peak. The 17.5 mm long, 0.5 mm thick, all-epitaxially-grown OP-GaAs sample with a 166.6-microm quasi-phase-matching period was pumped with 3.1-3.3 microm wavelength, 1 ps pulses up to 2 microJ in energy. The OPG threshold was observed at 55 nJ pump energy with the pump polarized along the [111] crystal direction. The slope efficiency near threshold was 51%, and the external conversion efficiency was as high as 15%.

High-power source of THz radiation based on orientation-patterned GaAs pumped by a fiber laser

We demonstrate a new source of frequency-tunable THz wave packets based on parametric down-conversion process in orientation-patterned GaAs (OP-GaAs) that produces muW-level THz average powers at the repetition rate of 100 MHz. The OP-GaAs crystal is pumped by a compact all-fiber femtosecond laser operating at the wavelength of 2 mum. Such combination of fiber laser and OP-GaAs technologies promises a practical source of THz radiation which should be suitable for many applications including imaging and spectroscopy.

Optical parametric oscillation in quasi-phase-matched GaAs.

We demonstrate an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on GaAs. The OPO utilizes an all-epitaxially-grown orientation-patterned GaAs crystal that is 0.5 mm thick, 5 mm wide, and 11 mm long, with a domain reversal period of 61.2 microm. Tuning either the near-IR pump wavelength between 1.8 and 2 microm or the temperature of the GaAs crystal allows the mid-IR output to be tuned between 2.28 and 9.14 microm, which is limited only by the spectral range of the OPO mirrors. The pump threshold of the singly resonant OPO is 16 microJ for the 6-ns pump pulses, and the photon conversion slope efficiency reaches 54%. We also show experimentally the possibility of pump-polarization-independent frequency conversion in GaAs.

Improved dispersion relations for GaAs and applications to nonlinear optics

The refractive index of GaAs has been measured in the wavelength range from 0.97 to 17 μm, which covers nearly the entire transmission range of the material. Linear and quadratic temperature coefficients of the refractive index have been fitted to data measured between room temperature and 95 °C. In the midinfrared, the refractive index and temperature dependence are obtained from analysis of etalon fringes measured by Fourier-transform spectroscopy in undoped GaAs wafers. In the near infrared, the refractive index is deduced from the quasiphasematching (QPM) wavelengths of second-harmonic generation in orientation-patterned GaAs crystals. Two alternative empirical expressions are fitted to the data to give the refractive index as a function of wavelength and temperature. These dispersion relations agree with observed QPM conditions for midinfrared difference-frequency generation and second-harmonic generation. Predictions for various nonlinear optical interactions are presented, including tuning curves for optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers. Also, accurate values are predicted for QPM conditions in which extremely large parametric gain bandwidths can be obtained.

Template design and fabrication for low-loss orientation-patterned nonlinear AlGaAs waveguides pumped at 1.55μm

Orientation-patterned GaAs templates and AlxGa1−x As waveguides were grown using molecular beam epitaxy technique for nonlinear optical wavelength converters applications and tested by second harmonic generation of 1.56 μm input beam. Current template design leads to waveguide core corrugation, and high transmission loss. An improved template fabrication process is proposed to eliminate template-induced corrugation. Initial growth and processing results show that high-quality template surfaces can be obtained, essential for the waveguide re-growth over the GaAs template.

HVPE-based orientation-patterned GaAs: added-value for non-linear applications.

ABSTRACTA new route is presented for the development of Orientation-Patterned Gallium Arsenide (OP-GaAs) for both guided and non-guided optical applications. The method is based on the use of the near-equilibrium growth process HVPE (Hydride Vapour Phase Epitaxy) that enables thick, high quality and orientation-preserving regrowth over dimensions fully compatible with targeted applications. The control of the growth anisotropy permits to preserve the original periodic arrangement of the initial template so that OP-GaAs substrates can be fabricated with pattern width and structure thickness ranging respectively from 1.8 to 110μm and 20 to 500μm. Such a large scope of dimensions appears useful either for bulk structures such as Optical Parametric Oscillators (OPO) or telecommunication applications. As an example, we suggest that combining this growth method with mechano-chemical polishing process could decrease propagation losses on AlGaAs waveguide structures for frequency conversion in telecom bands.

Difference frequency generation of 8-µm radiation in orientation-patterned GaAs

First-order quasi-phase-matched difference frequency generation of narrowband tunable mid-infrared light is demonstrated in orientation-patterned GaAs. The all-epitaxial orientation-patterned crystal is fabricated by a combination of molecular beam epitaxy and hydride vapor phase epitaxy. Lasers at 1.3 and 1.55 microm were mixed to give an idler output at 8 microm, with power and wavelength tuning consistent with theoretical estimates, indicating excellent material uniformity over the 19-mm-long and 500-microm-thick device.

Measurement of the nonlinear coefficient of orientation-patterned GaAs and demonstration of highly efficient second-harmonic generation

Quasi-phase-matched (QPM) GaAs structures, 0.5 mm thick, 10 mm long, and with 61-mum grating periods, were grown by a combination of molecular-beam epitaxy and hydride vapor phase epitaxy. These were characterized by use of mid-IR second-harmonic generation (SHG) with a ZnGeP(2) (ZGP) optical parametric oscillator as a pump source. The SHG efficiencies of QPM GaAs and QPM LiNbO(3) were directly compared, and a ratio of nonlinear coefficients d(14)(GaAs)/d(33) (LiNbO(3))=5.01+/-0.3 was found at 4.1-mum fundamental wavelength. For input pulse energies as low as 50muJ and approximately 60-ns pulse duration, an internal SHG conversion efficiency of 33% was measured in QPM GaAs.

All-epitaxial fabrication of thick, orientation-patterned GaAs films for nonlinear optical frequency conversion

Orientation-patterned GaAs (OPGaAs) films of 200 μm thickness have been grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) on an orientation-patterned template fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Fabrication of the templates utilized only MBE and chemical etching, taking advantage of GaAs/Ge/GaAs heteroepitaxy to control the crystal orientation of the top GaAs film relative to the substrate. Antiphase domain boundaries were observed to propagate vertically under HVPE growth conditions so that the domain duty cycle was preserved through the thick GaAs for all domain periods attempted. Quasiphase-matched frequency doubling of a CO2 laser was demonstrated with the beam confocally focused through a 4.6 mm long OPGaAs film.

MBE growth of antiphase GaAs films using GaAs/Ge/GaAs heteroepitaxy

Semiconductor films with periodic crystal orientation modulation have nonlinear properties useful for optical wave-mixing devices. We have developed an all-epitaxial technique for preparing orientation-patterned GaAs templates by GaAs/Ge/GaAs epitaxy and have used these to grow laterally orientation-patterned films. We have investigated the effects of substrate misorientation, substrate temperature, and prelayer to find conditions which will allow controlled MBE growth of antiphase GaAs using thin Ge interlayers. After fabricating templates from these films using lithography and etching techniques, we have regrown GaAs films with antiphase crystal orientation modulation in the plane of the film. The template-induced antiphase boundaries were observed to propagate vertically under all conditions examined.