We demonstrate the first room temperature continuous wave THz sources based on intracavity difference frequency generation from mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers. This accomplishment was enabled by integration of several key technologies, resulting in a new high efficiency waveguide design and improved thermal dissipation. Room temperature single mode emissions at 3.6 THz with an emitting power of 3 μW and a mid-IR-to-THz conversion efficiency of 0.44 mW/W² are obtained in continuous wave mode. THz peak power up to 1.4 mW in pulsed mode operation with a mid-IRto- THz conversion efficiency of 0.8 mW/W2 at 3.5 THz is also demonstrated.

Date Published: 5 September 2014
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 9199, Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications V, 919902 (5 September 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2064802

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9199:
Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications V
Manijeh Razeghi; Alexei N. Baranov; John M. Zavada; Dimitris Pavlidis, Editor(s)