Multi-mode lasing in terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs

Wu, Yu; Addamane, Sadhvikas; Reno, John L.; Williams, Benjamin S.

doi:10.1063/5.0061391

Multi-mode lasing in terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs

Journal Article · Tue Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0061391· OSTI ID:1822235

^[1]; ^[2]; Reno, John L. ^[2]; ^[1]

Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

To date, terahertz quantum-cascade vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (QC-VECSELs) have tended to oscillate in only one or two lasing modes at a time. This is due to the fact that the interaction between all of the longitudinal external cavity modes and the QC gain material is mediated through a single metasurface resonance, whose spatial overlap changes little with frequency; this suppresses spatial-hole-burning induced multi-mode operation. In this Letter, a VECSEL external cavity is demonstrated using an output coupler based upon a high-resistivity silicon etalon, which presents a periodic reflectance spectrum that is nearly matched with the external cavity mode spectrum. As the cavity length is varied, a systematic transition between a single/double-mode lasing regime and a multi-mode lasing regime is realized due to the Vernier effect. Up to nine modes lasing simultaneously with a free-spectral-range of approximately 21 GHz is demonstrated. Furthermore, this result provides a path toward the multi-mode operation necessary for eventual frequency comb operation.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

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

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 1822235

Report Number(s):: SAND--2021-11663J; 699516

Journal Information:: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 119; ISSN 0003-6951

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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