Large static tuning of narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78K

A new tuning mechanism is demonstrated for single-mode metal-clad plasmonic lasers, in which the refractive-index of the laser’s surrounding medium affects the resonant-cavity mode in the same vein as the refractive-index of gain medium inside the cavity. Reversible, continuous, and mode-hop-free tu...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chongzhao Wu, Yuan Jin, John L. Reno, Sushil Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2017-02-01
Series:APL Photonics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4972127
_version_ 1811265148081405952
author Chongzhao Wu
Yuan Jin
John L. Reno
Sushil Kumar
author_facet Chongzhao Wu
Yuan Jin
John L. Reno
Sushil Kumar
author_sort Chongzhao Wu
collection DOAJ
description A new tuning mechanism is demonstrated for single-mode metal-clad plasmonic lasers, in which the refractive-index of the laser’s surrounding medium affects the resonant-cavity mode in the same vein as the refractive-index of gain medium inside the cavity. Reversible, continuous, and mode-hop-free tuning of ∼57 GHz is realized for single-mode narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs), which is demonstrated at a much more practical temperature of 78 K. The tuning is based on post-process deposition/etching of a dielectric (silicon-dioxide) on a QCL chip that has already been soldered and wire-bonded onto a copper mount. This is a considerably larger tuning range compared to previously reported results for terahertz QCLs with directional far-field radiation patterns. The key enabling mechanism for tuning is a recently developed antenna-feedback scheme for plasmonic lasers, which leads to the generation of hybrid surface-plasmon-polaritons propagating outside the cavity of the laser with a large spatial extent. The effect of dielectric deposition on QCL’s characteristics is investigated in detail including that on maximum operating temperature, peak output power, and far-field radiation patterns. Single-lobed beam with low divergence (<7°) is maintained through the tuning range. The antenna-feedback scheme is ideally suited for modulation of plasmonic lasers and their sensing applications due to the sensitive dependence of spectral and radiative properties of the laser on its surrounding medium.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T20:18:25Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a99349826c3a497bba58e4b1c0d9dacc
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2378-0967
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T20:18:25Z
publishDate 2017-02-01
publisher AIP Publishing LLC
record_format Article
series APL Photonics
spelling doaj.art-a99349826c3a497bba58e4b1c0d9dacc2022-12-22T03:18:04ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Photonics2378-09672017-02-0122026101026101-910.1063/1.4972127005609APPLarge static tuning of narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78KChongzhao Wu0Yuan Jin1John L. Reno2Sushil Kumar3Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USASandia National Laboratories, Center of Integrated Nanotechnologies, MS 1303, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USAA new tuning mechanism is demonstrated for single-mode metal-clad plasmonic lasers, in which the refractive-index of the laser’s surrounding medium affects the resonant-cavity mode in the same vein as the refractive-index of gain medium inside the cavity. Reversible, continuous, and mode-hop-free tuning of ∼57 GHz is realized for single-mode narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs), which is demonstrated at a much more practical temperature of 78 K. The tuning is based on post-process deposition/etching of a dielectric (silicon-dioxide) on a QCL chip that has already been soldered and wire-bonded onto a copper mount. This is a considerably larger tuning range compared to previously reported results for terahertz QCLs with directional far-field radiation patterns. The key enabling mechanism for tuning is a recently developed antenna-feedback scheme for plasmonic lasers, which leads to the generation of hybrid surface-plasmon-polaritons propagating outside the cavity of the laser with a large spatial extent. The effect of dielectric deposition on QCL’s characteristics is investigated in detail including that on maximum operating temperature, peak output power, and far-field radiation patterns. Single-lobed beam with low divergence (<7°) is maintained through the tuning range. The antenna-feedback scheme is ideally suited for modulation of plasmonic lasers and their sensing applications due to the sensitive dependence of spectral and radiative properties of the laser on its surrounding medium.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4972127
spellingShingle Chongzhao Wu
Yuan Jin
John L. Reno
Sushil Kumar
Large static tuning of narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78K
APL Photonics
title Large static tuning of narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78K
title_full Large static tuning of narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78K
title_fullStr Large static tuning of narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78K
title_full_unstemmed Large static tuning of narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78K
title_short Large static tuning of narrow-beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78K
title_sort large static tuning of narrow beam terahertz plasmonic lasers operating at 78k
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4972127
work_keys_str_mv AT chongzhaowu largestatictuningofnarrowbeamterahertzplasmoniclasersoperatingat78k
AT yuanjin largestatictuningofnarrowbeamterahertzplasmoniclasersoperatingat78k
AT johnlreno largestatictuningofnarrowbeamterahertzplasmoniclasersoperatingat78k
AT sushilkumar largestatictuningofnarrowbeamterahertzplasmoniclasersoperatingat78k