Wavelength tuning and thermal dynamics of continuous-wave mid-infrared distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers

Year: 2013

Authors: Tombez L., Cappelli F., Schilt S., Di Domenico G., Bartalini S., Hofstetter D.

Autors Affiliation: Laboratoire Temps-Fréquence, Institut de Physique, Université de Neuchâtel, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland; CNR-INO, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica and LENS, European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy, Via Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino FI, Italy

Abstract: We report on the wavelength tuning dynamics in continuous-wave distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). The wavelength tuning response for direct current modulation of two mid-IR QCLs from different suppliers was measured from 10 Hz up to several MHz using ro-vibrational molecular resonances as frequency-to-intensity converters. Unlike the output intensity, which can be modulated up to several gigahertz, the frequency-modulation bandwidth was found to be on the order of 200 kHz, limited by the laser thermal dynamics. A non-negligible roll-off and a significant phase shift are observed above a few hundred hertz already and explained by a thermal model. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

Journal/Review: APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS

Volume: 103 (3)      Pages from: 031111  to: 031111

More Information: The authors from the University of Neuchatel would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) as well as Alpes Lasers SA for providing useful information about the laser. The authors from CNR-INO and LENS would like to acknowledge Professor M. Yamanishi and Dr. N. Akikusa from Hamamatsu Photonics K. K. for having provided the room-temperature DFB QCL and the details about its design.
KeyWords: Continuous waves; Direct current; Distributed feedback; Molecular resonances; Output intensity; Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs); Thermal dynamics; Wavelength tuning, Modulation; Quantum cascade lasers, Dynamics
DOI: 10.1063/1.4813753

ImpactFactor: 3.515
Citations: 27
data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-11-10
References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)

Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click here
Connecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here