Resonant second-order nonlinear optical processes in quantum cascade lasers

Phys Rev Lett. 2003 Jan 31;90(4):043902. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.043902. Epub 2003 Jan 31.

Abstract

We demonstrate an efficient intracavity nonlinear interaction of laser modes in a specially adapted quantum cascade laser. A two-wavelength quantum cascade laser structure emitting at wavelengths of 7.1 and 9.5 micrometer included cascaded resonant optical intersubband transitions in an intracavity configuration leading to resonantly enhanced sum-frequency and second-harmonic generation at wavelengths of 4.1, 3.6, and 4.7 micrometer respectively. Laser peak optical powers of 60 and 80 mW resulted in 30 nW of sum-frequency signal and 10-15 nW of second-harmonic signal, both in good agreement with theoretical calculations.