Coherent detection of metal-metal terahertz quantum cascade lasers with improved emission characteristics

Journal Article · Mon Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4866267· OSTI ID:22293063

Brewer, Anthony; Beere, Harvey E.; Ritchie, David A. ^[1]; Cavalié, Pierrick; Maysonnave, Jean; Tignon, Jérôme; Dhillon, Sukhdeep S. ^[2]

---

1. Semiconductor Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE (United Kingdom)
2. Laboratoire Pierre Aigrain, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS (UMR 8551), Université P. et M. Curie, Université D. Diderot, 75231 Paris Cedex 05 (France)

Coherent detection of emission from quantum cascade lasers with metal-metal waveguides is demonstrated through free-space coupling of a THz pulse to the sub-wavelength waveguide. We implement a simple, monolithic planar horn antenna design on the metal-metal waveguide that reduces the impedance mis-match to the waveguide. The resulting devices show up to 10 times more directed output power than conventional metal-metal waveguides. This enhanced coupling to free-space allows a more efficient injection of broad-band THz pulses into the waveguide. Through this, we are able to seed the laser emission and coherently detect the laser emission by electro-optic sampling.

• OSTI ID: 22293063
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 8; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANTENNAS
DETECTION
IMPEDANCE
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
METALS
PULSES
THZ RANGE
WAVEGUIDES
WAVELENGTHS