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    Effective group dispersion of terahertz quantum-cascade lasers
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2020) Röben, Benjamin; Lü, Xiang; Biermann, Klaus; Schrottke, Lutz; Grahn, Holger T.
    Terahertz (THz) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) are based on complex semiconductor heterostructures, in which the optical gain is generated by intersubband transitions. Using the spacing of the laser modes in the emission spectra, we have determined the effective group refractive index for more than one hundred THz QCLs of the hybrid design with Fabry-Pérot resonators based on single-plasmon waveguides. The experimentally obtained values of for emission frequencies between 2.5 and 5.6 THz generally follow the trend of derived from electromagnetic simulations. However, for a certain number of QCLs, the experimental values of exhibit a rather large deviation from the general trend and the simulation results. From a thorough analysis, we conclude that differences in the optical gain/loss spectra are responsible for this deviation, which lead to a modification of the dispersion in the active region and consequently to altered values of. The analysis also provides evidence that these differences in the gain/loss spectra originate from both, the details of the design and the gain broadening due to interface roughness. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.
  • Item
    Terahertz quantum-cascade lasers for high-resolution absorption spectroscopy of atoms and ions in plasmas
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2023) Lü, X.; Röben, B.; Biermann, K.; Wubs, J.R.; Macherius, U.; Weltmann, K.-D.; van Helden, J.H.; Schrottke, L.; Grahn, H.T.
    We report on terahertz (THz) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) based on GaAs/AlAs heterostructures, which exhibit single-mode emission at 3.360, 3.921, and 4.745 THz. These frequencies are in close correspondence to fine-structure transitions of Al atoms, N+ ions, and O atoms, respectively. Due to the low electrical pump power of these THz QCLs, they can be operated in a mechanical cryocooler in continuous-wave mode, while a sufficient intrinsic tuning range of more than 5 GHz is maintained. The single-mode operation and the intrinsic tuning range of these THz QCLs allow for the application of these lasers as radiation sources for high-resolution absorption spectroscopy to determine the absolute densities of Al atoms, N+ ions, and O atoms in plasmas.