Backward Wave Oscillator Based THz Spectroscopy, Diatomic Formalism and Optically Pumped Lasers

In this paper the Backward Wave Oscillator (BWO) based spectroscopy technique and its application to molecular spectroscopy especially to diatomic molecules have been discussed. This is a new and electronically controlled technique with enormous capabilities most of which are yet to be exploited. This paper also presents a part of the culmination of the collective efforts in developing a cohesive and consolidated enunciation of the spectroscopic parameters and their relationship to effective molecular Hamiltonians for diatomic formalism, linear four- atomic formalism & quasi-linearity, Watson Hamiltonian and the complexities in symmetric and asymmetric top spectral structures and its relationship to optical pumping and / or interstellar space. All these considered together present a beautiful and consistent picture of molecular spectroscopy and THz Electromagnetic sources.     

光抽运石墨烯太赫兹负动态电导率的理论研究

石墨烯特殊的零带隙能带结构和载流子弛豫特性,在研究太赫兹辐射源相干放大领域引起广泛关注。考虑带内和带间跃迁对电导率的贡献,研究了光抽运单层和多层石墨烯中非平衡二维电子-空穴系统的动态电导率特性。结果表明,在足够强的光抽运下,石墨烯中的粒子数反转能够使得动态电导率的实部在太赫兹频段内出现负值,这使基于石墨烯的太赫兹放大或受激辐射源成为可能。同时,通过研究动量弛豫时间、温度、层数、光强对石墨烯的负动态电导率的影响表明,石墨烯多层结构的动态电导率最小值的绝对值更大,作为太赫兹激光器的激活介质更具优势。     

Performance and Spectral Tuning of Optically Overtone Pumped Molecular Lasers

A laser model was developed to predict the performance of optically pumped higher overtone molecular lasers under pulsed and continuous wave (CW) excitations. This model takes into account up to 30 rotational levels in each of the eight vibrational states considered. Collision-induced relaxation among rotational levels, vibrational levels, energy transfer to translational degrees of freedom, and interactions with buffer gas, and the temperature dependence of these processes are included. Using parameters for a second overtone pulse pumped HBr laser, a complete lasing cascade can be expected at a certain pump pulse fluence resulting in maximum achievable efficiencies approaching 80%. Optimum operational pressure and temperature conditions are determined by the gas kinetic rates and line broadening effects. Frequency tuning and spectral narrowing of the laser output is possible with the insertion of intracavity filters without sacrificing laser output power owing to efficient energy redistribution between rotational levels mediated by appropriate buffer gases. CW lasing using waveguide (WG) like geometries is possible with efficiencies approaching 92% for first overtone pumped lasers. Heat conduction through the active gas enhanced by buffer gases and subsequent heat dissipation through the cooled WG walls are expected to handle the thermal load up to kW output power levels.     

Directional Optically Pumped Laterally Coupled DFB Lasers With Circular Mirrors

In a previous work, we showed that an adequate choice of phase shifts introduced by defects in a laterally coupled distributed feedback laser (LC-DFB) structure can lead to improved performance. In this paper, we change that optimized structure by adding an in-plane back mirror to the structure, funneling light in only one direction into a single-mode waveguide. We show that a well designed circular grating considerably reduces lateral radiation losses in the back mirror, concentrating light in the front end of the device. We also examine the possibility of converting the in-plane emission at the front end of the device into vertical emission by placing a higher-order grating. Furthermore, we show that side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of the device can be improved by incorporating a nanotaper.      

光抽运双光子激光的全量子理论

本文采用均匀加宽的四能级原子模型与光泵双光子激光相互作用,其系统具有双光子损耗机制。利用全量子理论推导各原子算符的朗之万方程,进而研究了稳态光子数、频率、线宽及激光运转过程。     

Numerical Simulation of ZnO-Based Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

In this work, a particle-based Monte Carlo model is used to quantify the potential of terahertz sources based on the ZnO-based material system relative to existing devices based on GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells. Specifically, two otherwise identical quantum cascade structures based on ZnO/MgZnO and GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells are designed, and their non-equilibrium carrier distributions are then computed as a function of temperature. The simulation results show that, because of their larger optical phonon energy, ZnO/MgZnO quantum cascade laser structures exhibit weaker temperature dependence of the population inversion than in the case of similar structures made of GaAs/AlGaAs. In particular, as the temperature is increased from 10 K to 300 K, population inversion is found to decrease by a factor of 4.48 and 1.50 for the AlGaAs and MgZnO structure, respectively. Based on these results, the MgZnO devices are then predicted to be, in principle, capable of laser action without cryogenic cooling.     

High Resolution Terahertz Spectroscopy with Quantum Cascade Lasers

High resolution terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool for laboratory purposes as well as for remote sensing in astronomy, planetary research, and Earth observation. THz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are promising sources for implementation into THz spectrometers, in particular at frequencies above 3 THz, which is the least explored portion of the THz region. One application of QCLs in THz spectroscopy is in absorption spectrometers, where they can replace less powerful and somewhat cumbersome sources based on frequency mixing with gas lasers. Another one is using a QCL as local oscillator in a heterodyne spectrometer for remote sensing. This article will review the state-of-the art in high resolution THz spectroscopy with QCLs.     

基于D2O的光抽运腔式太赫兹波激光谱线竞争

从半经典密度矩阵理论出发,建立了光抽运太赫兹波谱线竞争的双三能级分子系统模型,理论推导了抽运信号吸收系数以及太赫兹波信号增益系数的数学表达式,采用迭代法数值计算了CO2激光-9P(32)抽运重水(D2O)气体分子腔式太赫兹激光66μm和116μm两条谱线之间的竞争。给出了抽运功率、工作气压及激光腔长等工作条件下谱线竞争的一般规律。     

半导体可饱和吸收镜锁模光抽运垂直外腔面发射半导体激光器

介绍了半导体可饱和吸收镜锁模光抽运垂直外腔面发射半导体激光器的原理、基本结构特点、应用及设计中的主要问题,对其研究进展及未来发展趋势作了分析和总结。     

Optical Properties of Active Regions in Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

In this work, AlGaAs/GaAs superlattice, with layers’ sequence and compositions imitating the active and injector regions of a quantum cascade laser designed for emission in the terahertz spectral range, was investigated. Three independent absorption-like optical spectroscopy techniques were employed in order to study the band structure of the minibands formed within the conduction band. Photoreflectance measurements provided information about interband transitions in the investigated system. Common transmission spectra revealed, in the target range of intraband transitions, mainly a number of lines associated with the phonon-related processes, including two-phonon absorption. In contrast, differential transmittance realized by means of Fourier-transform spectroscopy was utilized to probe the confined states of the conduction band. The obtained energy separation between the second and third confined electron levels, expected to be predominantly contributing to the lasing, was found to be ~9 meV. The optical spectroscopy measurements were supported by numerical calculations performed in the effective mass approximation and XRD measurements for layers’ width verification. The calculated energy spacings are in a good agreement with the experimental values.     

p型量子阱太赫兹振荡器研究

采用非抛物平衡方程理论研究了直流偏置下 p型量子阱负有效质量 p+ pp+ 二极管电流的时空特性。在适当的掺杂和偏置条件下 ,由于高场畴的形成 ,二极管中将产生太赫兹 (THz,1 THz=1 0 1 2 Hz)电流自振荡。计算了自振荡频率对直流偏置的依赖性 ,提出了设计可调谐 THz振荡源的可能性     

Observation of Amplified Stimulated Terahertz Emission from Optically Pumped Heteroepitaxial Graphene-on-Silicon Materials

We experimentally observed the fast relaxation and relatively slow recombination dynamics of photogenerated electrons/holes in a heteroepitaxial graphene-on-Si material under pumping with a 1550-nm, 80-fs pulsed fiber laser and probing with the corresponding terahertz beam generated by and synchronized with the pumping laser. The time-resolved electric-nearfield intensity originating from the coherent terahertz photon emission is electrooptically sampled in total-reflection geometry. The Fourier spectrum fairly agrees the product of the negative dynamic conductivity and the expected THz photon spectrum reflecting the pumping photon spectrum. This phenomenon is interpreted as an amplified stimulated terahertz emission.     

Spectroscopic Study on Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics and Terahertz Amplified Stimulated Emission in Optically Pumped Graphene

This paper reviews recent advances in spectroscopic study on ultrafast carrier dynamics and terahertz (THz) stimulated emission in optically pumped graphene. The gapless and linear energy spectra of electrons and holes in graphene can lead to nontrivial features such as negative dynamic conductivity in the THz spectral range, which may lead to the development of new types of THz lasers. First, the non-equilibrium carrier relaxation/recombination dynamics is formulated to show how photoexcited carriers equilibrate their energy and temperature via carrier-carrier and carrier-phonon scatterings and in what photon energies and in what time duration the dynamic conductivity can take negative values as functions of temperature, pumping photon energy/intensity, and carrier relaxation rates. Second, we conduct time-domain spectroscopic studies using an optical pump and a terahertz probe with an optical probe technique at room temperature and show that graphene sheets amplify an incoming terahertz field. Two different types of samples are prepared for the measurement; one is an exfoliated monolayer graphene on SiO₂/Si substrate and the other is a heteroepitaxially grown non-Bernal stacked multilayer graphene on a 3C-SiC/Si epi-wafer.     

量子阱半导体激光器概述

本文主要从量子理论中的电子波函数所满足的薛定锷方程出发,讨论了量子阱理论。进而介绍多量手阱激光器(MQWL)的重要特征之一——阈值电流密度随量子阱的数目变化的情况。     

Spectroscopy of Methanol and Its Application to Optically Pumped THz FIR Lasers

In this paper, we have reviewed the details of experimental and theoretical aspects of the high-resolution molecular spectroscopy of methanol isotopomers. The methods of spectroscopic assignments and analysis have been discussed. The applications of the spectroscopic techniques, particularly of Fourier transform spectroscopy in the field of optically pumped Terra-Hertz Lasers (OPTL) and far infrared (OPFIR) lasers have been discussed. New assignments have been deduced for TEA-CO₂ laser pumped methanol and CW CO₂ pumped ¹³CD₃OD. Stark effect analyses and the determination of accurate dipole moment values have been discussed for CH₃OH, ¹³CH₃OH and CH₃ ¹⁸0H. The importance of high-resolution spectroscopy is also discussed in terms of astrophysical detection. Some recent ongoing astrophysical efforts are outlined. In our laboratory we are in the process of setting up a THz methanol laser for astrophysical applications and search for new coherent monochromatic laser sources.     

量子阱能带工程及其应用新进展

量子阱结构作为新一代微电子器件材料而迅速崛起。文章在阐述能带工程基本原理的基础上,重点介绍多量子阱红外探测器的进展情况。     

Absorption Dynamics in All-Optical Switch Based on Intersubband Transition in InGaAs–AlAs–AlAsSb Coupled Quantum Wells

We developed a pigtailed fiber module including an intersubband transition all-optical switch using InGaAs-AlAs-AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells and studied the absorption saturation dynamics. An increased extinction ratio was obtained by optimizing the delay time between control and signal pulses due to the reduced effect of two-photon absorption. An extinction ratio of 10 dB was obtained for a fiber input pulse energy of 16 pJ (200-fs pulsewidth). The absorption recovery time varied from 600 fs to 2 ps depending on the control pulse energy     

Study of Optimal Cavity Parameter in Optically Pumped D2O Gas Terahertz Laser

Heavy water gas (D₂O gas) which owns special structure property, can generate terahertz radiation by optically pumping technology, and its 385 μm wavelength radiation can be widely used. In this research, on the base of semi-classical density matrix theory, we set up a three-level energy system as its theoretical model, a TEA-CO₂ laser 9R (22) output line (λ?=?9.26 μm) acted as pumping source, D₂O gas molecules were operating medium, the expressions of pumping absorption coefficient G _p and Terahertz signal gain coefficient G _s were deduced. It was shown that the gain of Terahertz signal was related with the energy-level parameters of operating molecules and some operating parameters of the Terahertz laser cavity, mainly including cavity length. By means of iteration method, the output power density of Terahertz pulse signal was calculated numerically. Changing the parameter of cavity length and keeping others steady, the relationship curve between the output power intensity (Is) of Terahertz pulse laser and the operating cavity length (L) was obtained. The curve showed that the power intensity (Is) increased with cavity length (L) in a certain range, but decreased when the length (L) exceeded some value because of the absorption effect, and there was an optimal cavity length for the highest output power. We used a grating tuned TEA-CO₂ laser as pumping power and a sample tube of variable length in 70–160 cm as terahertz laser operating cavity to experiment. The results of theoretical calculation and experiment matched with each other, and it is helpful for miniaturizing terahertz laser volume to make it practical.     

通过量子阱异质结中最佳带隙偏移改善量子阱激光器的性能

我们分析了量子阱异质结的带隙偏移对量于阱（ＱＷ）激光器性能的影响。表明，除了应变之外，带隙偏移的优化也能改进ＱＷ激光器的性能，尤其是能够同时达到超低阈值电流和高速。改进步骤是从减少ＱＷ激光器填充态开始，因为在光限制区导带结构和价带结构的不对称性可以通过ＱＷ异质结的最佳带隙偏移来补偿。其结果为设计高性能的ＱＷ激光器以及其它有源激光器件提供了设计规范。     

Tunable Terahertz Source Based on Optics Pumped Nonlinear Crystals

Recent progresses about optical pumped tunable terahertz （THz） sources are interviewed, including THz parametric oscillation （TPO） and difference frequency generation （DFG）. We develop high efficiency and high power surface-emitted TPO, as well as DFG with nonlinear crystals. A novel scheme for the high efficiency DFG source based on the Cherenkov phase-matching technology is comprehensively investigated in both bulk crystals. The widely tunable optical THz radiation is also researched based on the organic nonlinear 4-N,N-dimethylamino-4＇-N＇- methylstilbazolium 2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonate （DSTMS） crystal.