Injection-locking of terahertz quantum cascade lasers up to 35GHz using RF amplitude modulation

Opt Express. 2010 Sep 27;18(20):20799-816. doi: 10.1364/OE.18.020799.

Abstract

We demonstrate that the cavity resonance frequency - the round-trip frequency - of Terahertz quantum cascade lasers can be injection-locked by direct modulation of the bias current using an RF source. Metal-metal and single-plasmon waveguide devices with roundtrip frequencies up to 35GHz have been studied, and show locking ranges above 200MHz. Inside this locking range the laser round-trip frequency is phase-locked, with a phase noise determined by the RF-synthesizer. We find a square-root dependence of the locking range with RF-power in agreement with classical injection-locking theory. These results are discussed in the context of mode-locking operation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Lasers*
  • Lasers, Semiconductor*
  • Metals / chemistry
  • Microwaves
  • Models, Statistical
  • Optics and Photonics*
  • Terahertz Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Metals