Mode-locked pulses from mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

Christine Y. Wang; Lyuba Kuznetsova; V. M. Gkortsas; L. Diehl; F. X. Kärtner; M. A. Belkin; A. Belyanin; X. Li; D. Ham; H. Schneider; P. Grant; C. Y. Song; S. Haffouz; Z. R. Wasilewski; H. C. Liu; Federico Capasso

doi:10.1364/OE.17.012929

Mode-locked pulses from mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

Christine Y. Wang, Lyuba Kuznetsova, V. M. Gkortsas, L. Diehl, F. X. Kärtner, M. A. Belkin, A. Belyanin, X. Li, D. Ham, H. Schneider, P. Grant, C. Y. Song, S. Haffouz, Z. R. Wasilewski, H. C. Liu, Federico Capasso

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Abstract

In this study, we report the unequivocal demonstration of midinfrared mode-locked pulses from quantum cascade lasers. The train of short pulses was generated by actively modulating the current and hence the gain of an edge-emitting quantum cascade laser (QCL). Pulses with duration of about 3 ps at full-width-at-half-maxima and energy of 0.5 pJ were characterized using a second-order interferometric autocorrelation technique based on a nonlinear quantum well infrared photodetector. The mode-locking dynamics in the QCLs was modeled based on the Maxwell-Bloch equations in an open two-level system. Our model reproduces the overall shape of the measured autocorrelation traces and predicts that the short pulses are accompanied by substantial wings as a result of strong spatial hole burning. The range of parameters where short mode-locked pulses can be formed is found.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	12929-12943
Number of pages	15
Journal	Optics Express
Volume	17
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.012929
State	Published - 20 Jul 2009
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Mode-locked pulses from mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers",

abstract = "In this study, we report the unequivocal demonstration of midinfrared mode-locked pulses from quantum cascade lasers. The train of short pulses was generated by actively modulating the current and hence the gain of an edge-emitting quantum cascade laser (QCL). Pulses with duration of about 3 ps at full-width-at-half-maxima and energy of 0.5 pJ were characterized using a second-order interferometric autocorrelation technique based on a nonlinear quantum well infrared photodetector. The mode-locking dynamics in the QCLs was modeled based on the Maxwell-Bloch equations in an open two-level system. Our model reproduces the overall shape of the measured autocorrelation traces and predicts that the short pulses are accompanied by substantial wings as a result of strong spatial hole burning. The range of parameters where short mode-locked pulses can be formed is found.",

author = "Wang, {Christine Y.} and Lyuba Kuznetsova and Gkortsas, {V. M.} and L. Diehl and K{\"a}rtner, {F. X.} and Belkin, {M. A.} and A. Belyanin and X. Li and D. Ham and H. Schneider and P. Grant and Song, {C. Y.} and S. Haffouz and Wasilewski, {Z. R.} and Liu, {H. C.} and Federico Capasso",

year = "2009",

month = jul,

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doi = "10.1364/OE.17.012929",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

pages = "12929--12943",

journal = "Optics Express",

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T1 - Mode-locked pulses from mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

AU - Wang, Christine Y.

AU - Kuznetsova, Lyuba

AU - Gkortsas, V. M.

AU - Diehl, L.

AU - Kärtner, F. X.

AU - Belkin, M. A.

AU - Belyanin, A.

AU - Li, X.

AU - Ham, D.

AU - Schneider, H.

AU - Grant, P.

AU - Song, C. Y.

AU - Haffouz, S.

AU - Wasilewski, Z. R.

AU - Liu, H. C.

AU - Capasso, Federico

PY - 2009/7/20

Y1 - 2009/7/20

N2 - In this study, we report the unequivocal demonstration of midinfrared mode-locked pulses from quantum cascade lasers. The train of short pulses was generated by actively modulating the current and hence the gain of an edge-emitting quantum cascade laser (QCL). Pulses with duration of about 3 ps at full-width-at-half-maxima and energy of 0.5 pJ were characterized using a second-order interferometric autocorrelation technique based on a nonlinear quantum well infrared photodetector. The mode-locking dynamics in the QCLs was modeled based on the Maxwell-Bloch equations in an open two-level system. Our model reproduces the overall shape of the measured autocorrelation traces and predicts that the short pulses are accompanied by substantial wings as a result of strong spatial hole burning. The range of parameters where short mode-locked pulses can be formed is found.

AB - In this study, we report the unequivocal demonstration of midinfrared mode-locked pulses from quantum cascade lasers. The train of short pulses was generated by actively modulating the current and hence the gain of an edge-emitting quantum cascade laser (QCL). Pulses with duration of about 3 ps at full-width-at-half-maxima and energy of 0.5 pJ were characterized using a second-order interferometric autocorrelation technique based on a nonlinear quantum well infrared photodetector. The mode-locking dynamics in the QCLs was modeled based on the Maxwell-Bloch equations in an open two-level system. Our model reproduces the overall shape of the measured autocorrelation traces and predicts that the short pulses are accompanied by substantial wings as a result of strong spatial hole burning. The range of parameters where short mode-locked pulses can be formed is found.

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DO - 10.1364/OE.17.012929

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VL - 17

SP - 12929

EP - 12943

JO - Optics Express

JF - Optics Express

IS - 15

ER -

Mode-locked pulses from mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

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