Coherent frequency combs produced by self frequency modulation in quantum cascade lasers

Journal Article · Sun Feb 23 23:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4866868· OSTI ID:22293041

Khurgin, J. B.; Dikmelik, Y. ^[1]; Hugi, A.; Faist, J. ^[2]

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1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 (United States)
2. Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 16, 8093 Zurich (Switzerland)

One salient characteristic of Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) is its very short τ ∼ 1 ps gain recovery time that so far thwarted the attempts to achieve self-mode locking of the device into a train of single pulses. We show theoretically that four wave mixing, combined with the short gain recovery time causes QCL to operate in the self-frequency-modulated regime characterized by a constant power in time domain and stable coherent comb in the frequency domain. Coherent frequency comb may enable many potential applications of QCL's in sensing and measurement.

• OSTI ID: 22293041
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 104; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ENERGY RECOVERY
FREQUENCY MIXING
FREQUENCY MODULATION
GAIN
LASERS
MODE LOCKING
PULSES