11 research outputs found
Single-mode instability in standing-wave lasers: The quantum cascade laser as a self-pumped parametric oscillator
We report the observation of a clear single-mode instability threshold in continuous-wave Fabry-Perot quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). The instability is characterized by the appearance of sidebands separated by tens of free spectral ranges (FSR) from the first lasing mode, at a pump current not much higher than the lasing threshold. As the current is increased, higher-order sidebands appear that preserve the initial spacing, and the spectra are suggestive of harmonically phase-locked waveforms. We present a theory of the instability that applies to all homogeneously broadened standing-wave lasers. The low instability threshold and the large sideband spacing can be explained by the combination of an unclamped, incoherent Lorentzian gain due to the population grating, and a coherent parametric gain caused by temporal population pulsations that changes the spectral gain line shape. The parametric term suppresses the gain of sidebands whose separation is much smaller than the reciprocal gain recovery time, while enhancing the gain of more distant sidebands. The large gain recovery frequency of the QCL compared to the FSR is essential to observe this parametric effect, which is responsible for the multiple-FSR sideband separation. We predict that by tuning the strength of the incoherent gain contribution, for example by engineering the modal overlap factors and the carrier diffusion, both amplitude-modulated (AM) or frequency-modulated emission can be achieved from QCLs. We provide initial evidence of an AM waveform emitted by a QCL with highly asymmetric facet reflectivities, thereby opening a promising route to ultrashort pulse generation in the mid-infrared. Together, the experiments and theory clarify a deep connection between parametric oscillation in optically pumped microresonators and the single-mode instability of lasers, tying together literature from the last 60 years.United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Spectral Combs from UV to THz Program (Grant W31P4Q-16-1-0002)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Awards ECCS-1230477, ECCS-1614631 and ECCS- 1614531)United States. Dept. of Defense. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (Air Force Contracts FA8721-05-C- 0002 and No. FA8702-15-D-0001
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The Effect of Intracavity Field Variation on the Emission Properties of Quantum Cascade Lasers
A common and powerful simplification in laser physics is to ignore the spatial dependence of the intracavity field intensity, and instead replace it with its average value. This approach can elucidate many aspects of laser behavior. In this work, however, we examine several problems, both theoretical and experimental, whose understanding requires that the intracavity intensity variation be properly taken into account. We first address theoretically the question of light reflecting from an amplifying slab, a simple problem to pose but one that reveals counterintuitive solutions of the Fresnel equations. These subtleties provide a deeper understanding of negative refraction in nonmagnetic media, amplified total internal reflection, and the perfect lens. Secondly, we fabricate multi-section sampled grating quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) and demonstrate single-mode operation and wide tunability by the Vernier effect. Thirdly, we theoretically investigate how the end mirror reflectivities of a laser affect the output power, and show that power output is reduced when the disparity of the two reflectivities increases. Finally, we demonstrate experimentally for the first time that the transition from single to multi-mode operation in QCLs begins with the appearance of sidebands on the primary lasing mode, separated by tens of free spectral ranges. We explain this state theoretically as the result of the parametric interaction between the primary lasing mode and the sidebands. The frequency separation of the sidebands and the temporal behavior of the emitted waveform are sensitive to the facet reflectivities. This discovery provides a new pathway toward mid-infrared frequency combs from quantum cascade lasers.Physic
Supplement 1: Lasers with distributed loss have a sublinear output power characteristic
Originally published in Optica on 20 January 2015 (optica-2-1-48
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Watt-Level Continuous-Wave Emission from a Bifunctional Quantum Cascade Laser/Detector
Bifunctional active regions, capable of light generation and detection at the same wavelength, allow a straightforward realization of the integrated mid-infrared photonics for sensing applications. Here, we present a high performance bifunctional device for 8 μm capable of 1 W single facet continuous wave emission at 15 °C. Apart from the general performance benefits, this enables sensing techniques which rely on continuous wave operation, for example, heterodyne detection, to be realized within a monolithic platform and demonstrates that bifunctional operation can be realized at longer wavelength, where wavelength matching becomes increasingly difficult and that the price to be paid in terms of performance is negligible. In laser operation, the device has the same or higher efficiency compared to the best lattice-matched QCLs without same wavelength detection capability, which is only 30% below the record achieved with strained material at this wavelength