Christopher Bonzon

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.

Surface emitting multi-wavelength array of single frequency quantum cascade lasers

We present a surface emitting laser array design based on distributed Bragg reflectors together with a second order extractor, providing a deterministic mode selection mechanism. The technology is implemented as a buried heterostructure compatible with continuous-wave operation and low dissipation. A proof of principle featured 10 regularly spaced single mode devices with a coverage of 175 cm−1 in the 8–10 μm wavelength range and milliwatt output powers with a far-field pattern full-width half-maximum of 8.3° in the longitudinal direction.

Subcycle measurement of intensity correlations in the terahertz frequency range

The terahertz frequency range is lacking an experimental implementation of Hanbury Brown and Twiss photon correlation measurements with sub-cycle time resolution and high sensitivity. Such a technique would be needed, for example, to observe photon pairs predicted to be released in a nonadiabatic modulation of an ultrastrongly coupled light-matter system. In this paper, we propose a room-temperature measurement of photon correlations in the THz range based on electro-optic sampling. We apply this technique to a THz quantum cascade laser and measure below and above threshold first- and second-order degree of coherence with a subcycle temporal resolution of 146 fs. The sensitivity of the proposed measurement scheme is so far limited to

High power and single mode quantum cascade lasers

\ensuremath{\sim}1500

Integrated patch and slot array antenna for terahertz quantum cascade lasers at 4.7 THz

photons. This technique can, in principle, be extended for ultrahigh bandwidth single-photon sensitivity in a wide range of frequencies.

2D patch antenna array on a double metal quantum cascade laser with >90% coupling to a Gaussian beam and selectable facet transparency at 1.9 THz.

We present a single mode quantum cascade laser with nearly 1 W optical power. A buried distributed feedback reflector is used on the back section for wavelength selection. The laser is 6 mm long, 3.5 μm wide, mounted episide-up and the laser facets are left uncoated. Laser emission is centered at 4.68 μm. Single-mode operation with a side mode suppression ratio of more than 30 dB is obtained in whole range of operation. Farfield measurements prove a symmetric, single transverse-mode emission in TM00-mode with typical divergences of 41° and 33° in the vertical and horizontal direction respectively. This work shows the potential for simple fabrication of high power lasers compatible with standard DFB processing.

Single-Mode Quantum Cascade Laser Array Emitting From a Single Facet

Our work presents a slot and a patch array antenna at the front facet of a 4.7 THz quantum cascade laser as extractor, decreasing the facet reflectivity down to 2.6%. The resulting output power increases by a factor 2 and the slope efficiency by a factor 4. The simulated and the measured far-fields are in good agreement.

A patch-array antenna single-mode low electrical dissipation continuous wave terahertz quantum cascade laser

2×2 parallel fed and 3×3 serial fed patch antenna arrays on a benzocyclobutene (BCB) polymer layer are integrated with a 70 μm wide, dry etched, double metal waveguide quantum cascade laser, operating at about 1.9 THz. The BCB surrounds the quantum cascade laser ridge and is planarized to fit precisely its height. The patch antenna arrays emit a linearly polarized, highly symmetric beam perpendicular to the antenna plane. The beams have a FWHM angle of 49° (2×2) and 35° (3×3). Both measurements and simulations indicate coupling factors to a Gaussian beam of over 90%. The antenna design is strongly governed by the high thickness (h=13.6  μm) and the low dielectric constant (ϵr=2.45) of the BCB substrate. Because the patch array has a very low input reflectivity of -13 to -20  dB over the 1.7-2.1 THz operation band, the laser needs a partially transmitting reflector to maintain the Q-factor of the active medium resonator to assure lasing in the antennas operation band. By changing the dimensions of the reflector, the facet transparency can be designed in a wide range from fully transmissive to highly reflective.

Strained Ge microbridges to obtain a direct bandgap laser

We present an array of single-mode quantum cascade lasers operating in the range 8-9.5 μm. The resonator features a pair of distributed Bragg reflectors for the mode selection, together with a second-order extraction grating. The radiation of these substrate emitting devices was combined in a single collector ridge. A proof of principle featured seven laser devices with a coverage of 170 cm-1. The functionality of our approach is corroborated with a set of polarization and near-field measurements confirming the collection of multiple frequencies in a unique ridge.

Room temperature operation of a deep etched buried heterostructure photonic crystal quantum cascade laser

We introduce a double metal terahertz quantum cascade laser meant for astrophysical heterodyne measurements. The laser ridge is embedded in benzocyclobutene, and the device exhibits single mode, continuous wave operation around 4.745 THz with a peak power of almost 1.8 mW at 10 K and a power consumption of ≈1.6 W. Moreover, thanks to the integration of a top metal contact with a patch array antenna for light out-coupling the beam of the emitted light has a low-divergence single-lobe profile and an FWHM of ≈30°.