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Title: Terahertz quantum cascade VECSEL with watt-level output power

Abstract

Here, we report a terahertz quantum-cascade vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (QC-VECSEL) whose output power is scaled up to watt-level by using an amplifying metasurface designed for increased power density. The metasurface is composed of a subwavelength array of metal-metal waveguide antenna-coupled sub-cavities loaded with a terahertz quantum-cascade gain material. Unlike previously demonstrated THz QC-VECSELs, the sub-cavities operate on their third-order lateral modal resonance (TM03), instead of their first-order (TM01) resonance. This results in a metasurface with a higher spatial density of the gain material, leading to an increased output power per metasurface area. In pulsed mode operation, peak THz output powers up to 830 mW at 77 K and 1.35 W at 6 K are observed, while a single-mode spectrum and a low divergence beam pattern are maintained. In addition, piezoelectric control of the cavity length allows approximately 50 GHz of continuous, single-mode tuning without a significant effect on output power or beam quality.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1]
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  1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1459988
Report Number(s):
SAND2018-4641J
Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951; 662743
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Physics Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 113; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS

Citation Formats

Curwen, Christopher A., Reno, John L., and Williams, Benjamin S. Terahertz quantum cascade VECSEL with watt-level output power. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1063/1.5033910.
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Curwen, Christopher A., Reno, John L., & Williams, Benjamin S. Terahertz quantum cascade VECSEL with watt-level output power. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5033910
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Curwen, Christopher A., Reno, John L., and Williams, Benjamin S. Mon . "Terahertz quantum cascade VECSEL with watt-level output power". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5033910. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1459988.
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@article{osti_1459988,
title = {Terahertz quantum cascade VECSEL with watt-level output power},
author = {Curwen, Christopher A. and Reno, John L. and Williams, Benjamin S.},
abstractNote = {Here, we report a terahertz quantum-cascade vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (QC-VECSEL) whose output power is scaled up to watt-level by using an amplifying metasurface designed for increased power density. The metasurface is composed of a subwavelength array of metal-metal waveguide antenna-coupled sub-cavities loaded with a terahertz quantum-cascade gain material. Unlike previously demonstrated THz QC-VECSELs, the sub-cavities operate on their third-order lateral modal resonance (TM03), instead of their first-order (TM01) resonance. This results in a metasurface with a higher spatial density of the gain material, leading to an increased output power per metasurface area. In pulsed mode operation, peak THz output powers up to 830 mW at 77 K and 1.35 W at 6 K are observed, while a single-mode spectrum and a low divergence beam pattern are maintained. In addition, piezoelectric control of the cavity length allows approximately 50 GHz of continuous, single-mode tuning without a significant effect on output power or beam quality.},
doi = {10.1063/1.5033910},
journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
number = 1,
volume = 113,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5033910
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Photonic Engineering Technology for the Development of Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers
    journal, July 2019

    • Zeng, Yongquan; Qiang, Bo; Wang, Qi Jie
    • Advanced Optical Materials, Vol. 8, Issue 3
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    Phase-locked photonic wire lasers by π coupling
    journal, December 2018

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    • Curwen, Christopher A.; Reno, John L.; Williams, Benjamin S.
    • Nature Photonics, Vol. 13, Issue 12
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    Terahertz quantum-cascade lasers for high-resolution spectroscopy of sharp absorption lines
    journal, April 2019

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    • Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 125, Issue 15
    • DOI: 10.1063/1.5079701

    High-resolution terahertz spectroscopy with quantum-cascade lasers
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    High-intensity and low-divergence THz laser with 1D autofocusing symmetric Airy beams
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    Direct Observation of Terahertz Frequency Comb Generation in Difference-Frequency Quantum Cascade Lasers
    journal, February 2021

    • Consolino, Luigi; Nafa, Malik; De Regis, Michele
    • Applied Sciences, Vol. 11, Issue 4
    • DOI: 10.3390/app11041416

    All-Optical Adaptive Control of Quantum Cascade Random Lasers
    text, January 2019

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