Terahertz Ultra-Short Pulses from Self-Induced Transparency Modelocked Quantum Cascade Lasers

Información del proyecto

TERAULTRA

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 703912

DOI

10.3030/703912

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de la firma de la CE 15 Febrero 2016

Fecha de inicio 1 Marzo 2016

Fecha de finalización 28 Febrero 2018

Financiado con arreglo a

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coste total

€ 195 454,80

Aportación de la UE

€ 195 454,80

Coordinado por

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
United Kingdom

Objetivo

The terahertz (THz) frequency range in the electromagnetic spectrum lacks a compact semiconductor source of ultra-short pulses, suitable for applications including ultrafast spectroscopy, atmospheric science and stable THz frequency comb generation. Although the quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a promising compact semiconductor THz source, its success in creating ultra-short pulses is limited due to the inherent fast gain recovery time. There have been demonstrations of short pulse (>1 ps) generation from THz QCLs based on active modelocking, although the stability of the pulses is limited. Crucially, there has been no demonstration of passive modelocking of QCLs to date, which in principle can create pulses much shorter than 1 ps.

The goals of the proposed TERAULTRA research are to break through this technological challenge, and create THz ultra-short pulses of <1 ps from QCLs using self-induced transparency (SIT) effects. Recently, it has been proposed that QCLs are the ideal tool to realize SIT mediated modelocking owing to their relatively long inter-subband coherence times, and, importantly, the possibility of interleaving gain and absorbing media with engineered dipole moments. While the gain medium produces gain, the absorbing medium absorbs the resonant light, suppressing the growth of the continuous waves, thereby creating short pulses. We will design THz QCLs with coupled gain and absorbing media that can initiate modelocking using SIT effects, for the first time. By simulating the gain recovery and dephasing times, dipole moments, and gain and absorption parameters, the stability of the modelocked pulses will be determined and understood theoretically. We will then demonstrate experimentally the first modelocked laser exploiting the SIT effect, based on a THz QCL with interleaved gain and absorbing media in the growth direction as well as based on independently-controlled two-section waveguide cavities, leading to pulse widths <1 ps.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ciencias naturales › ciencias de la tierra y ciencias ambientales conexas › ciencias de la atmósfera
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › electromagnetismo y electrónica › dispositivo semiconductor
• ciencias naturales › informática y ciencias de la información › software › software de aplicación › software de simulación
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › óptica › física del láser
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › física teórica › física de partículas › fotones

Programa(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions PROGRAMA PRINCIPAL
  
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
  

Tema(s)

• MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF)
  

Régimen de financiación

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-MSCA-IF-2015

Coordinador

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

• Aportación neta de la UEn: € 195 454,80
• Dirección: WOODHOUSE LANE ; LS2 9JT Leeds ; Reino Unido
• Región: Yorkshire and the Humber › West Yorkshire › Leeds
• Tipo de actividad: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Coste total: € 195 454,80