Frequency Locking and Monitoring Based on Bi-directional Terahertz Radiation of a 3rd-Order Distributed Feedback Quantum Cascade Laser

We have performed frequency locking of a dual, forward reverse emitting third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (QCL) at 3.5 THz. By using both directions of THz emission in combination with two gas cells and two power detectors, we can for the first time perform frequency stabilization, while monitor the frequency locking quality...

Phase locking of a 3.4 THz third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser using a room-temperature superlattice harmonic mixer

We report on the phase locking of a 3.4 THz third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (QCL) using a room temperature GaAs/AlAs superlattice diode as both a frequency multiplier and an internal harmonic mixer. A signal-to-noise level of 60?dB is observed in the intermediate frequency signal between the 18th harmonic of a 190.7?GHz...

Beam and phase distributions of a terahertz quantum cascade wire laser

We report on both measurements and simulations of the beam profile and wavefront of a single-mode, 3.5?THz quantum cascade wire laser, incorporating a lateral corrugated metal-metal waveguide, 3rd-order distributed feedback grating. The intrinsic wavefront was measured by using a Hartmann wavefront sensor (HWS) without any optical components...

Hot electron bolometer heterodyne receiver with a 4.7-THz quantum cascade laser as a local oscillator

We report on a heterodyne receiver designed to observe the astrophysically important neutral atomic oxygen [OI] line at 4.7448?THz. The local oscillator is a third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser operating in continuous wave mode at 4.741?THz. A quasi-optical, superconducting NbN hot electron bolometer is used as the mixer. We...

Frequency and amplitude stabilized terahertz quantum cascade laser as local oscillator

We demonstrate an experimental scheme to simultaneously stabilize the frequency and amplitude of a 3.5 THz third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser as a local oscillator. The frequency stabilization has been realized using a methanol absorption line, a power detector, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) loop. The amplitude...

Frequency locking of single-mode 3.5-THz quantum cascade lasers using a gas cell

We report frequency locking of two 3.5-THz third-order distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) by using methanol molecular absorption lines, a proportional-integral-derivative controller, and a NbN bolometer. We show that the free-running linewidths of the QCLs are dependent on the electrical and temperature tuning coefficients....

High-resolution heterodyne spectroscopy using a tunable quantum cascade laser around 3.5 THz

A frequency tunable terahertz heterodyne spectrometer, based on a third-order distributed feedback quantum cascade laser as a local oscillator, has been demonstrated by measuring molecular spectral lines of methanol (CH3OH) gas at 3.5 THz. By varying the bias voltage of the laser, we achieved a tuning range of ? 1?GHz of the lasing frequency,...

Terahertz heterodyne spectrometer using a quantum cascade laser

A terahertz (THz) heterodyne spectrometer is demonstrated based on a quantum cascade laser (QCL) as a local oscillator (LO) and an NbN hot electron bolometer as a mixer, and it is used to measure high-resolution molecular spectral lines of methanol (CH3OH) between 2.913–2.918 THz. The spectral lines are taken from a gas cell containing methanol...

Phase locking of a 2.7 THz quantum cascade laser to a microwave reference

We demonstrate the phase locking of a 2.7 THz metal–metal waveguide quantum cascade laser (QCL) to an external microwave signal. The reference is the 15th harmonic, generated by a semiconductor superlattice nonlinear device, of a signal at 182 GHz, which itself is generated by a multiplier chain (x12) from a microwave synthesizer at ~15 GHz....

Phase locking and spectral linewidth of a two-mode terahertz quantum cascade laser

We have studied the phase locking and spectral linewidth of an ? 2.7?THz quantum cascade laser by mixing its two lateral lasing modes. The beat signal at about 8?GHz is compared with a microwave reference by applying conventional phase lock loop circuitry with feedback to the laser bias current. Phase locking has been demonstrated, resulting in...

Beam patterns of terahertz quantum cascade lasers with subwavelength cavity dimensions

The need to reach single-mode lasing and minimize at the same time the electrical dissipation of cryogenically operated terahertz quantum cascade lasers may result in small and subwavelength cavity dimensions. To assess the influence of such dimensions on the shape of the laser emission, we have measured the beam pattern of two metal-metal...

Terahertz heterodyne receiver based on a quantum cascade laser and a superconducting bolometer

We report the first demonstration of an all solid-state heterodyne receiver that can be used for high-resolution spectroscopy above 2?THz suitable for space-based observatories. The receiver uses a NbN superconducting hot-electron bolometer as mixer and a quantum cascade laser operating at 2.8?THz as local oscillator. We measure a double...