Analysis of terahertz surface emitting quantum-cascade lasers

Author

Schubert, Martin ; Rana, Farhan

Author_Institution

Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, USA

Volume

42

Issue

3

fYear

2006

fDate

3/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

257

Lastpage

265

Abstract

An analysis of surface-emitting terahertz quantum-cascade lasers operating at wavelengths near 100 μm is presented. The devices use distributed feedback through second-order Bragg metal gratings to generate strong emission of radiation normal to the laser surface. The analysis is based on coupling between the exact Floquet-Bloch eigenmodes of infinite periodic structures in finite length devices. The results show performance of surface-emitting terahertz lasers comparable to edge-emitting devices, with high radiative efficiencies and low threshold gains. Using phase-shifts in the grating, high-quality single-lobe beams in the farfield are obtained.

Keywords

Bragg gratings; distributed feedback lasers; eigenvalues and eigenfunctions; laser beams; laser cavity resonators; laser theory; optical fibres; periodic structures; quantum cascade lasers; stimulated emission; submillimetre wave lasers; surface emitting lasers; 100 mum; distributed feedback laser; edge-emitting devices; finite length devices; grating phase-shifts; high-quality single lobe beams; infinite periodic structures; low threshold gains; radiation emission; radiative efficiencies; second-order Bragg metal gratings; terahertz surface emitting quantum-cascade lasers; Distributed feedback devices; Gratings; Laser beams; Laser feedback; Laser modes; Laser theory; Optical surface waves; Optical waveguides; Surface emitting lasers; Waveguide lasers; Coupling coefficients; Floquet–Bloch expansion; distributed feedback (DFB) lasers; quantum-cascade laser; surface emission;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JQE.2005.863138

Filename

1589158