Terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs: theory and performance

Xu, Luyao; Curwen, Christopher; Chen, Daguan; Reno, John; Itoh, Tatsuo; Williams, Benjamin

doi:10.1109/jstqe.2017.2693024

Title: Terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs: theory and performance

Abstract

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.

Authors:

^[1]; Curwen, Christopher ^[1]; Chen, Daguan ^[1]; Reno, John ^[2]; Itoh, Tatsuo ^[1];

^[1]

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

Publication Date:: 2017-04-12

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

Sponsoring Org.:: 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)

OSTI Identifier:: 1356861

Report Number(s):: SAND-2017-4613J
Journal ID: ISSN 1077-260X; 652954; TRN: US1702158

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 23; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 1077-260X

Publisher:: IEEE Lasers and Electro-optics Society

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; quantum cascade laser; VECSEL; terahertz; metasurface; reflectarray

Citation Formats


                    Xu, Luyao, Curwen, Christopher, Chen, Daguan, Reno, John, Itoh, Tatsuo, and Williams, Benjamin. Terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs: theory and performance.  United States: N. p., 2017. 
Web.  doi:10.1109/jstqe.2017.2693024.

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                    Xu, Luyao, Curwen, Christopher, Chen, Daguan, Reno, John, Itoh, Tatsuo, & Williams, Benjamin. Terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs: theory and performance.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1109/jstqe.2017.2693024

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                    Xu, Luyao, Curwen, Christopher, Chen, Daguan, Reno, John, Itoh, Tatsuo, and Williams, Benjamin. Wed .  
"Terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs: theory and performance".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1109/jstqe.2017.2693024.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1356861.

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@article{osti_1356861,

  title        = {Terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade VECSELs: theory and performance},

  author       = {Xu, Luyao and Curwen, Christopher and Chen, Daguan and Reno, John and Itoh, Tatsuo and Williams, Benjamin},

  abstractNote = {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.},

  doi          = {10.1109/jstqe.2017.2693024},

  journal      = {IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics},

  number       = 6,

  volume       = 23,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2017},

  month        = {4}

}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Terahertz quantum cascade VECSEL with watt-level output power
journal, July 2018

Curwen, Christopher A.; Reno, John L.; Williams, Benjamin S.
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 113, Issue 1
DOI: 10.1063/1.5033910

Line-defect photonic crystal terahertz quantum cascade laser
journal, October 2019

Klimont, A.; Ottomaniello, A.; Degl’Innocenti, R.
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 126, Issue 15
DOI: 10.1063/1.5120025

THz Emission by Frequency Down-conversion in Topological Insulator Quantum Dots
journal, September 2019

Huang, Yongwei; Lou, Wenkai; Cheng, Fang
Physical Review Applied, Vol. 12, Issue 3
DOI: 10.1103/physrevapplied.12.034003

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Abstract

Citation Formats

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