Integration of a terahertz quantum cascade laser with a hollow waveguide
| DWPI Title: Integrated quantum cascade laser and rectangular waveguide device, has interface between end of quantum cascade laser and entrance end of hollow waveguide for coupling laser light from quantum cascade laser into hollow waveguide |
| Abstract: The present invention is directed to the integration of a quantum cascade laser with a hollow waveguide on a chip to improve both the beam pattern and manufacturability. By coupling the QCL output into a single-mode rectangular waveguide the radiation mode structure can be known and the propagation, manipulation, and broadcast of the QCL radiation can then be entirely controlled by well-established rectangular waveguide techniques. By controlling the impedance of the interface, enhanced functions, such as creating amplifiers, efficient coupling to external cavities, and increasing power output from metal-metal THz QCLs, are also enabled. |
| Use: Integrated quantum cascade laser and rectangular waveguide device. |
| Advantage: Since the interface is provided between end facet of quantum cascade laser and entrance end of hollow waveguide for coupling laser light from quantum cascade laser into hollow waveguide or for coupling external light from hollow waveguide into quantum cascade laser, the impedance of quantum cascade laser is matched with impedance of hollow waveguide and laser facet loss is matched with laser cavity loss, thus efficiency of the quantum cascade laser is improved and the output power of the quantum cascade laser is optimized. |
| Novelty: The device has a substrate and metallic hollow waveguide (15) on the substrate. A quantum cascade laser (10) has metal-metal waveguided hetero-structure active region for generation of laser light on the substrate. An interface is provided between an end facet (14) of the quantum cascade laser and an entrance end of the hollow waveguide for coupling the laser light from the quantum cascade laser into the hollow waveguide or for coupling external light from the hollow waveguide into the quantum cascade laser. |
| Filed: 8/25/2010 |
| Application Number: US2010868440A |
| Tech ID: SD 11448.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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