Wavelength Scaling of Widely-Tunable Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Metasurface Lasers

Kim, Anthony D.; Curwen, Christopher A.; Wu, Yu; Reno, John L.; Addamane, Sadhvikas Jayachandra; Williams, Benjamin S.

doi:10.1109/jmw.2022.3224640

Title: Wavelength Scaling of Widely-Tunable Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Metasurface Lasers

Journal Article · Fri Dec 09 00:00:00 EST 2022 · IEEE Journal of Microwaves

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/jmw.2022.3224640· OSTI ID:2311776

^[1]; Curwen, Christopher A. ^[2]; Wu, Yu ^[1];

^[3];

^[1]

Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Center of Integrated Nanotechnologies

Terahertz (THz) external-cavity lasers based on quantum-cascade (QC) metasurfaces are emerging as widely-tunable, single-mode sources with the potential to cover the 1--6 THz range in discrete bands with milliwatt-level output power. By operating on an ultra-short cavity with a length on the order of the wavelength, the QC vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting-laser (VECSEL) architecture enables continuous, broadband tuning while producing high quality beam patterns and scalable power output. The methods and challenges for designing the metasurface at different frequencies are discussed. As the QC-VECSEL is scaled below 2 THz, the primary challenges are reduced gain from the QC active region, increased metasurface quality factor and its effect on tunable bandwidth, and larger power consumption due to a correspondingly scaled metasurface area. At frequencies above 4.5 THz, challenges arise from a reduced metasurface quality factor and the excess absorption that occurs from proximity to the Reststrahlen band. The results of four different devices — with center frequencies 1.8 THz, 2.8 THz, 3.5 THz, and 4.5 THz — are reported. Each device demonstrated at least 200 GHz of continuous single-mode tuning, with the largest being 650 GHz around 3.5 THz. The limitations of the tuning range are well modeled by a Fabry-Pérot cavity which accounts for the reflection phase of the metasurface and the effect of the metasurface quality factor on laser threshold. Lastly, the effect of different output couplers on device performance is studied, demonstrating a significant trade-off between the slope efficiency and tuning bandwidth.

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Research Organization:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 2311776

Report Number(s):: SAND-2023-10932J

Journal Information:: IEEE Journal of Microwaves, Vol. 3, Issue 1; ISSN 2692-8388

Publisher:: IEEECopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
external cavity lasers
frequency tuning
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Title: Wavelength Scaling of Widely-Tunable Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Metasurface Lasers

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