Tunable and compact dispersion compensation of broadband THz quantum cascade laser frequency combs

Miniaturized frequency combs (FCs) can be self-generated at terahertz (THz) frequencies through four-wave mixing in the cavity of a quantum cascade laser (QCL). To date, however, stable comb operation is only observed over a small operational current range in which the bias-depended chromatic dispersion is compensated. As most dispersion compensation techniques in the THz range are not tunable, this limits the spectral coverage of the comb and the emitted output power, restricting potential applications in, for example, metrology and ultrashort THz pulse generation. Here, we demonstrate an alternative architecture that provides a tunable, lithographically independent, control of the free-running coherence properties of THz QCL FCs. This is achieved by integrating an on-chip tightly coupled mirror with the QCL cavity, providing an external cavity and hence a tunable Gires Tournois interferometer (GTI). By finely adjusting the gap between the GTI and the back-facet of an ultra-broadband, high dynamic range QCL, we attain wide dispersion compensation regions, where stable and narrow (~3 kHz linewidth) single beatnotes extend over an operation range that is significantly larger than that of dispersion-dominated bare laser cavity counterparts. Significant reduction of the phase noise is registered over the whole QCL spectral bandwidth (1.35 THz). This agile accommodation of a tunable dispersion compensator will help enable uptake of QCL-combs for metrological, spectroscopic and quantum technology−oriented applications

Verrouillage de mode de lasers à cascade quantique THz : contrôle de la dispersion et non-linéarités

THz QCLs are nowadays considered a promising platform for the generation of intense and ultrashort THz pulses. Owing to their fast gain recovery time, passive modelocking of THz QCLs has so far proved to be difficult. On the contrary, active modelocking with a microwave modulation has been successfully applied. The pulse duration, however, has been arduous to reduce despite years of research. In 2017, THz pulses as short as 4ps have been generated by our group with the application of an integrated structure (a GTI) aiming to reduce the chromatic dispersion. The research in this thesis starts from this point.In particular, I present dispersion engineering in THz QCLs in order to obtain very short pulses even from relatively narrow-band devices. This is achieved using proven active modulation methods that can tune the QCL emission from high to low dispersion regimes. I also show that THz QCLs can present a strong amplitude modulation of their emission profile and that they can spontaneously emit pulses as a result of a self-locking mechanism, contrary to the expected frequency modulated response. As a consequence, this indicates that the fast gain recovery time is not a limiting factor for the generation of pulses. I also show this passive self-locking scheme for passive pulse generation in the framework of the first demonstrations of harmonic modelocking of THz QCLs. Finally, a new phenomenon is presented where the modes of a free running THz QCL can beat together to generate free space microwave emission.Les LCQ THz sont aujourd'hui considérés comme une plate-forme prometteuse pour la génération d’impulsions THz intenses et ultracourtes. En raison de leur temps de récupération du gain rapide, le verrouillage en mode passif des LCQ THz s'est jusqu'à présent révélé difficile. Au contraire, le verrouillage de mode actif avec une modulation hyperfréquence a été appliqué avec succès. La durée du pouls a cependant été difficile à réduire malgré des années de recherche. En 2017, notre groupe a généré des impulsions THz de 4ps grâce à l'application d'une structure intégrée (un GTI) visant à réduire la dispersion chromatique. La recherche dans cette thèse commence à partir de ce point. Je présente notamment l'ingénierie de dispersion dans les LCQ THz afin d'obtenir des impulsions très courtes, même à partir de dispositifs à bande relativement étroite. Ceci est réalisé en utilisant des méthodes de modulation actives éprouvées qui peuvent ajuster l’émission de LCQ d’un régime de dispersion élevé à faible. Je montre également que les LCQ THz peuvent présenter une forte modulation d'amplitude de leur profil d'émission et qu'ils peuvent émettre spontanément des impulsions à la suite d'un mécanisme d’auto-verrouillage. En conséquence, cela indique que le temps de récupération de gain rapide n'est pas un facteur limitant pour la génération d'impulsions. Je montre également ce schéma passif dans le cadre des premières démonstrations du verrouillage en mode harmonique de LCQ THz. Enfin, un nouveau phénomène est présenté où les modes d’une LCQ THz peuvent battre ensemble pour générer une émission de micro-ondes dans l’espace libre

Near-field probes for sensitive detectorless near-field nanoscopy in the 2.0-4.6 THz range

Imaging and spectroscopy at terahertz (THz) frequencies have become key methods for fundamental studies across the physical sciences. With the emergence of nanoscale materials and devices, holding great promise for photonics, electronics, and communication technologies, the search for THz analysis at the nanoscale arises. Detectorless THz near-field nanoscopy emerged as a versatile method for hyperspectral mapping of light-matter interaction phenomena in bi-dimensional materials and systems. However, it is strongly limited by the weak scattering efficiencies of atomic force microscope (AFM) tips. Here, we experimentally evaluate the performance of unconventional AFM tip shapes to enhance the scattering efficiency, at three frequencies, namely, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.6 THz. The impact of tip geometry is corroborated by numerical simulations. The shorter shank length of the evaluated tips provides a very compelling alternative to commercial tips at frequencies &gt;2 THz.</p

Ultrafast response of harmonic modelocked THz lasers

International audienceThe use of fundamental modelocking to generate short terahertz (THz) pulses and THz frequency combs from semiconductor lasers has become a routine affair, using quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) as a gain medium. However, unlike classic laser diodes, no demonstrations of harmonic modelocking, active or passive, have been shown in THz QCLs, where multiple pulses per round trip are generated when the laser is modulated at the harmonics of the cavity's fundamental round-trip frequency. Here, using time-resolved THz techniques, we show for the first time harmonic injection and mode-locking in which THz QCLs are modulated at the harmonics of the round-trip frequency. We demonstrate the generation of the harmonic electrical beatnote within a QCL, its injection locking to an active modulation and its direct translation to harmonic pulse generation using the unique ultrafast nature of our approach. Finally, we show indications of self-starting harmonic emission, i.e., without external modulation, where the QCL operates exclusively on a harmonic (up to its 15th harmonic) of the round-trip frequency. This behaviour is supported by time-resolved simulations of induced gain and loss in the system and shows the importance of the electronic, as well as photonic, nature of QCLs. These results open up the prospect of passive harmonic modelocking and THz pulse generation, as well as the generation of low-noise microwave generation in the hundreds of GHz region

Self-Induced Mode-Locking in Electrically Pumped Far-Infrared Random Lasers.

Mode locking, the self-starting synchronous oscillation of electromagnetic modes in a laser cavity, is the primary way to generate ultrashort light pulses. In random lasers, without a cavity, mode-locking, the nonlinear coupling amongst low spatially coherent random modes, can be activated via optical pumping, even without the emission of short pulses. Here, by exploiting the combination of the inherently giant third-order χ(3) nonlinearity of semiconductor heterostructure lasers and the nonlinear properties of graphene, the authors demonstrate mode-locking in surface-emitting electrically pumped random quantum cascade lasers at terahertz frequencies. This is achieved by either lithographically patterning a multilayer graphene film to define a surface random pattern of light scatterers, or by coupling on chip a saturable absorber graphene reflector. Intermode beatnote mapping unveils self-induced phase-coherence between naturally incoherent random modes. Self-mixing intermode spectroscopy reveals phase-locked random modes. This is an important milestone in the physics of disordered systems. It paves the way to the development of a new generation of miniaturized, electrically pumped mode-locked light sources, ideal for broadband spectroscopy, multicolor speckle-free imaging applications, and reservoir quantum computing