Continuous-wave operation of a broadly tunable thermoelectrically cooled external cavity quantum-cascade laser

Maulini, Richard; Yarekha, Dmitri; Bulliard, Jean-Marc; Giovannini, Marcella; Faist, Jérôme; Gini, E.

doi:10.1364/ol.30.002584

Cited by 75 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Even better performances have been recently obtained by using heterogeneous quantum cascade structures into an external cavity configuration [8]: single-mode tuning range of more than 100 cm -1 (10% the center wavelenght) has been achieved. On the side of spectral purity, upper limits to the emission linewidth of external cavity QCLs have been estimated in few MHz [9,10], and are the same order of magnitude of those measured for free-running DFB QCLs [11,12], also verified by our experiments [13]. This fact confirms that the external cavity does not significantly contribute to the narrowing of the emission linewidth.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Quantum cascade lasers as metrological tools for space optics

Bartalini

Borri

Galli³

et al. 2017

International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2008

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A distributed-feedback quantum-cascade laser working in the 4.3÷4.4 µm range has been frequency stabilized to the Lamb-dip center of a CO2 ro-vibrational transition by means of first-derivative locking to the saturated absorption signal, and its absolute frequency counted with a kHz-level precision and an overall uncertainty of 75 kHz. This has been made possible by an optical link between the QCL and a near-IR Optical Frequency Comb Synthesizer, thanks to a non-linear sum-frequency generation process with a fiber-amplified Nd:YAG laser. The implementation of a new spectroscopic technique, known as polarization spectroscopy, provides an improved signal for the locking loop, and will lead to a narrower laser emission and a drastic improvement in the frequency stability, that in principle is limited only by the stability of the optical frequency comb synthesizer (few parts in 10 13 ). These results confirm quantum cascade lasers as reliable sources not only for high-sensitivity, but also for highprecision measurements, ranking them as optimal laser sources for space applications.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Quantum cascade lasers as metrological tools for space optics

Bartalini

Borri

Galli³

et al. 2017

International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2008

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“…Today, cw powers of QCLs are typically in the range of several mW with powers > 100 mW being reported [15,16]. Most recently, external cavity QCLs have been realized [17,18] which extend the tuning range to typically ±5% of the center wavelength. QCL wavelengths now extend from ca.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace gas monitoring with infrared laser-based detection schemes

et al. 2007

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The success of laser-based trace gas sensing techniques crucially depends on the availability and performance of tunable laser sources combined with appropriate detection schemes. Besides near-infrared diode lasers, continuously tunable midinfrared quantum cascade lasers and nonlinear optical laser sources are preferentially employed today. Detection schemes are based on sensitive absorption measurements and comprise direct absorption in multi-pass cells as well as photoacoustic and cavity ringdown techniques in various configurations. We illustrate the performance of several systems implemented in our laboratory. These include time-resolved multicomponent traffic emission measurements with a mobile CO 2 -laser photoacoustic system, a diode-laser based cavity ringdown device for measurements of impurities in industrial process control, isotope ratio measurements with a difference frequency (DFG) laser source combined with balanced path length detection, detection of methylamines for breath analysis with both a near-IR diode laser and a DFG source, and finally, acetone measurements with a heatable multipass cell intended for vapor phase studies on doping agents in urine samples.PACS 33.20.Ea; 42.62.Fi; 42.72.Ai; 87.64.km; 92.60 Trace gases play a key role in various areas such as air pollution, climate research, industrial process control, agriculture, food industry, volcanology, workplace safety and medical diagnostics. There exist numerous gas sensing devices based on different detection principles like gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS) or combinations of the two (GC-MS), chemiluminescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electrochemical sensors, colorimetry, etc. In recent years, laser-spectroscopic sensing devices have attracted a lot of interest (see e.g., [1]) as they enable high detection sensitivity (down to sub-ppb concentrations) and selectivity (including differentiation between isotopomers and isomers), multicomponent capabil- Trace gas sensor requirements with corresponding approach for laser-based detection system ity and large dynamic range (several orders of magnitude in concentration), and generally neither sample-preparation nor -preconcentration are required. However, the laser source characteristics in terms of available wavelengths, tunability, linewidth, power, operation temperature, etc., as well as the combination with appropriate sensitive detection schemes are crucial for the success of laser-based sensing. Table 1 lists the main sensing requirements and the corresponding approaches using laser-based methods. Ideally, one system can fulfill all requirements. The combination of broad continuous tuning with a narrow linewidth and a certain power level favors laserbased systems. Laser sourcesTunable near-infrared (near-IR) lasers are readily available, notably diode lasers equipped with an external cavity. These external cavity III-V diode lasers (ECDLs) represent excellent sources in terms of availability, compactness, robustness and tuning characteri...

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“…As shown in Figure 12, two or more emitters with complementary spectral coverages can be combined in a single system without increasing system size and weight. Each of these emitters can be designed to have a broad gain and, therefore, broad tuning range capability [14,15]. Their output optical beams can be combined in a single beam using either the polarization beam combining approach or the dichroic beam combining approach.…”

Section: Conflicts Of Interestmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in Rapidly-Tunable External Cavity Quantum Cascade Lasers with a Frequency-Shifted Feedback

et al. 2016

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Abstract:The recent demonstration of external cavity quantum cascade lasers with optical feedback, controlled by an acousto-optic modulator, paves the way to ruggedized infrared laser systems with the capability of tuning the emission wavelength on a microsecond scale. Such systems are of great importance for various critical applications requiring ultra-rapid wavelength tuning, including combustion and explosion diagnostics and standoff detection. In this paper, recent research results on these devices are summarized and the advantages of the new configuration are analyzed in the context of practical applications.

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Continuous-wave operation of a broadly tunable thermoelectrically cooled external cavity quantum-cascade laser

Cited by 75 publications

References 13 publications

Quantum cascade lasers as metrological tools for space optics

Quantum cascade lasers as metrological tools for space optics

Trace gas monitoring with infrared laser-based detection schemes

Progress in Rapidly-Tunable External Cavity Quantum Cascade Lasers with a Frequency-Shifted Feedback

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