Andreas Hugi

Mid-infrared frequency comb based on a quantum cascade laser

Optical frequency combs act as rulers in the frequency domain and have opened new avenues in many fields such as fundamental time metrology, spectroscopy and frequency synthesis. In particular, spectroscopy by means of optical frequency combs has surpassed the precision and speed of Fourier spectrometers. Such a spectroscopy technique is especially relevant for the mid-infrared range, where the fundamental rotational–vibrational bands of most light molecules are found. Most mid-infrared comb sources are based on down-conversion of near-infrared, mode-locked, ultrafast lasers using nonlinear crystals. Their use in frequency comb spectroscopy applications has resulted in an unequalled combination of spectral coverage, resolution and sensitivity. Another means of comb generation is pumping an ultrahigh-quality factor microresonator with a continuous-wave laser. However, these combs depend on a chain of optical components, which limits their use. Therefore, to widen the spectroscopic applications of such mid-infrared combs, a more direct and compact generation scheme, using electrical injection, is preferable. Here we present a compact, broadband, semiconductor frequency comb generator that operates in the mid-infrared. We demonstrate that the modes of a continuous-wave, free-running, broadband quantum cascade laser are phase-locked. Combining mode proliferation based on four-wave mixing with gain provided by the quantum cascade laser leads to a phase relation similar to that of a frequency-modulated laser. The comb centre carrier wavelength is 7 micrometres. We identify a narrow drive current range with intermode beat linewidths narrower than 10 hertz. We find comb bandwidths of 4.4 per cent with an intermode stability of less than or equal to 200 hertz. The intermode beat can be varied over a frequency range of 65 kilohertz by radio-frequency injection. The large gain bandwidth and independent control over the carrier frequency offset and the mode spacing open the way to broadband, compact, all-solid-state mid-infrared spectrometers.

External cavity quantum cascade laser tunable from 7.6 to 11.4 μm

We present the development of a broad gain quantum cascade active region. By appropriate cascade design and using a symmetric active region arrangement, we engineer a flat gain and increase the total modal gain in the desired spectral range. Grating-coupled external cavity quantum cascade lasers using this symmetric active region are tunable from 7.6 to 11.4 μm with a peak optical output power of 1 W and an average output power of 15 mW at room-temperature. With a tuning of over 432 cm−1, this single source covers an emission range of over 39% around the center frequency.

External cavity quantum cascade laser

In this paper we review the progress of the development of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) operated in an external cavity configuration. We concentrate on QCLs based on the bound-to-continuum design, since this design is especially suitable for broadband applications. Since they were first demonstrated, these laser-based tunable sources have improved in performance in terms of output power, duty cycle, operation temperature and tuneability. Nowadays they are an interesting alternative to FTIRs for some applications. They operate at room temperature, feature a high spectral resolution while being small in size. They were successfully used in different absorption spectroscopy techniques. Due to their vast potential for applications in industry, medicine, security and research, these sources enjoy increasing interest within the research community as well as in industry.

Dual-comb spectroscopy based on quantum-cascade-laser frequency combs

Mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy by means of quantum cascade laser frequency combs is demonstrated. Broadband high resolution molecular spectroscopy is performed, showing the potential of quantum cascade laser combs as a compact, all solid-state, chemical sensor.

Heterogeneous High-Performance Quantum-Cascade Laser Sources for Broad-Band Tuning

A heterogeneous high-performance quantum-cascade laser gain chip comprising two bound-to-continuum active region designs emitting at 8.2 and 9.3 mum is presented. Its extrapolated gain spectrum has a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 350 cm - 1. Though a broad gain bandwidth invariably results in a reduced gain cross section, devices with a high-reflection coated back facet still lase continuous-wave (CW) up to a temperature of 50 degC and demonstrates output powers in excess of 100 mW at 30degC. Such high performance was achieved by designing the waveguide in a buried heterostructure fashion and epi-down mounting on a diamond submount, resulting in a thermal resistance of only 4.8 K/W. In pulsed mode, we reached a peak output power of 1 W at room temperature. Finally, in order to prove the usability for broad-band tuning, this chip was antireflection coated on the front facet with a residual reflectivity of < 2.5 x 10-3 and used in our external cavity (EC) setup operated at room temperature. In pulsed mode, we were able to tune the gain chip over 292 cm -1, which is 25% of center frequency. In CW, we reached a coarse tuning range of 201 cm-1 (18%) and an output power in excess of 135 mW at the gain maximum at 15degC. This gain chip enabled CW room temperature EC tuning with output powers in excess of 20 mW over 172 cm -1.

Coherent frequency combs produced by self frequency modulation in quantum cascade lasers

One salient characteristic of Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) is its very short τ ∼ 1 ps gain recovery time that so far thwarted the attempts to achieve self-mode locking of the device into a train of single pulses. We show theoretically that four wave mixing, combined with the short gain recovery time causes QCL to operate in the self-frequency-modulated regime characterized by a constant power in time domain and stable coherent comb in the frequency domain. Coherent frequency comb may enable many potential applications of QCLs in sensing and measurement.

Room-temperature continuous-wave operation of an external-cavity quantum cascade laser.

Room-temperature, continuous-wave operation of an external-cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) is reported. Single-mode tuning range of 120 cm(-1) was achieved, from 7.96 to 8.84 microm. The gain chips utilized are based on the bound to continuum design and were fabricated as buried heterostructure lasers. Gap-free tuning (mode hops only on the external-cavity modes) is demonstrated for an antireflection-coated laser, just by grating rotation. The EC-QCL was implemented in a Littrow setup and an average power of 1.5 mW was obtained at 20 degrees C, while a peak power of 20 mW was obtained for a modified Littrow setup with the back extraction of light.

Quantum Cascade Laser Frequency Combs

Abstract It was recently demonstrated that broadband quantum cascade lasers can operate as frequency combs. As such, they operate under direct electrical pumping at both mid-infrared and THz frequencies, making them very attractive for dual-comb spectroscopy. Performance levels are continuously improving, with average powers over 100mW and frequency coverage of 100 cm-1 in the mid-infrared region. In the THz range, 10mW of average power and 600 GHz of frequency coverage are reported. As a result of the very short upper state lifetime of the gain medium, the mode proliferation in these sources arises from four-wave mixing rather than saturable absorption. As a result, their optical output is characterized by the tendency of small intensity modulation of the output power, and the relative phases of the modes to be similar to the ones of a frequency modulated laser. Recent results include the proof of comb operation down to a metrological level, the observation of a Schawlow-Townes broadened linewidth, as well as the first dual-comb spectroscopy measurements. The capability of the structure to integrate monothically nonlinear optical elements as well as to operate as a detector shows great promise for future chip integration of dual-comb systems.

Four-wave mixing in a quantum cascade laser amplifier

We present the direct observation of four-wave mixing over a detuning range of more than 3 THz in an InGaAs/AlInAs strain-compensated quantum cascade laser (QCL) amplifier emitting at 4.3 μm by simultaneous injection of a single mode QCL and a broadly tunable source. From its intensity, we determine a χ(3) of 0.9 × 10−15 m2 V−2, in good agreement with transport model simulations based on the density matrix approach. This four-wave-mixing mechanism is an important driving factor in mode proliferation occurring in connection with the recent demonstration of comb generation in broadband QCLs.

Broadband external cavity tuning in the 3-4 μm window

In this work, a continuous external cavity spectral tuning of 556 cm−1 in the 3–4 μm region is shown for a heterogeneous bound-to-continuum active region design based on the strain-compensated Sb-free material system. The two active regions have center wavelengths at 3.3 μm and 3.7 μm with a total modal overlap factor of 86%. We also show an effective multilayer broadband anti-reflectivity coating in the 3–4 μm region reducing the overall reflectivity over the whole tuning range below 1.4%.