Terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs: theory and performance

Journal Article · 12 April 2017 · IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/jstqe.2017.2693024 · OSTI ID:1356861

Xu, Luyao  ^[1]; Curwen, Christopher ^[1]; Chen, Daguan ^[1]; Reno, John ^[2]; Itoh, Tatsuo ^[1]; Williams, Benjamin  ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States). Dept. of Electrical Engineering
2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Center of Integrated Nanotechnologies

A longstanding challenge for terahertz quantum-cascade (QC) lasers is achieving both a high power and high-quality beam pattern, this is due in part due to their use of sub-wavelength metallic waveguides. Recently, the vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) concept was demonstrated for the first time in the terahertz range and for a QC-laser. This is enabled by the development of an amplifying metasurface reflector capable of coupling incident free-space THz radiation to the QC-laser material such that it is amplified and re-radiated. The THz metasurface QC-VECSEL initiates a new approach for making QC-lasers with high power and excellent beam pattern. Furthermore, the ability to engineer the electromagnetic phase, amplitude, and polarization response of the metasurface enables lasers with new functionality. Our article provides an overview of the fundamental theory, design considerations, and recent results for high-performance THz QC-VECSELs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1356861
• Report Number(s): SAND-2017-4613J; 652954; TRN: US1702158
• Journal Information: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, Vol. 23, Issue 6; ISSN 1077-260X
• Publisher: IEEE Lasers and Electro-optics SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English