Mode-locked short pulses from an 8 μm wavelength semiconductor laser

Johannes Hillbrand (), Nikola Opačak, Marco Piccardo, Harald Schneider, Gottfried Strasser, Federico Capasso and Benedikt Schwarz ()
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Johannes Hillbrand: TU Wien, Guß
Nikola Opačak: TU Wien, Guß
Marco Piccardo: Harvard University
Harald Schneider: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
Gottfried Strasser: TU Wien, Guß
Federico Capasso: Harvard University
Benedikt Schwarz: TU Wien, Guß

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Quantum cascade lasers (QCL) have revolutionized the generation of mid-infrared light. Yet, the ultrafast carrier transport in mid-infrared QCLs has so far constituted a seemingly insurmountable obstacle for the formation of ultrashort light pulses. Here, we demonstrate that careful quantum design of the gain medium and control over the intermode beat synchronization enable transform-limited picosecond pulses from QCL frequency combs. Both an interferometric radio-frequency technique and second-order autocorrelation shed light on the pulse dynamics and confirm that mode-locked operation is achieved from threshold to rollover current. Furthermore, we show that both anti-phase and in-phase synchronized states exist in QCLs. Being electrically pumped and compact, mode-locked QCLs pave the way towards monolithically integrated non-linear photonics in the molecular fingerprint region beyond 6 μm wavelength.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19592-1

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