Extensive study of the linewidth enhancement factor of a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser at ultra-low temperature

O. Spitz; A. Herdt; J. Duan; M. Carras; W. Elsässer; F. Grillot

doi:10.1117/12.2510502

21 February 2019 Extensive study of the linewidth enhancement factor of a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser at ultra-low temperature

O. Spitz, A. Herdt, J. Duan, M. Carras, W. Elsässer, F. Grillot

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10926, Quantum Sensing and Nano Electronics and Photonics XVI; 1092619 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2510502
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2019, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are optical sources exploiting radiative intersubband transitions within the conduction band of semiconductor heterostructures.¹ The opportunity given by the broad span of wavelengths that QCLs can achieve, from mid-infrared to terahertz, leads to a wide number of applications such as absorption spectroscopy, optical countermeasures and free-space communications requiring stable single-mode operation with a narrow linewidth and high output power.² One of the parameters of paramount importance for studying the high-speed and nonlinear dynamical properties of QCLs is the linewidth enhancement factor (LEF). The LEF quantifies the coupling between the gain and the refractive index of the QCL or, in a similar manner, the coupling between the phase and the amplitude of the electrical field.³ Prior work focused on experimental studies of the LEF for pump currents above threshold but without exceeding 12% of the threshold current at 283K⁴ and 56% of the threshold current at 82K.5 In this work, we use the Hakki-Paoli method6 to retrieve the LEF for current biases below threshold. We complement our findings using the self-mixing interferometry technique⁵ to obtain LEFs for current biases up to more than 100% of the threshold current. These insets are meaningful to understand the behavior of QCLs, which exhibit a strongly temperature sensitive chaotic bubble when subject to external optical feedback.⁷

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

O. Spitz, A. Herdt, J. Duan, M. Carras, W. Elsässer, and F. Grillot "Extensive study of the linewidth enhancement factor of a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser at ultra-low temperature", Proc. SPIE 10926, Quantum Sensing and Nano Electronics and Photonics XVI, 1092619 (21 February 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2510502

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available