Non-resonant optical modulation of quantum cascade laser and its application potential in infrared spectroscopy

Tao Yang; Chao Tian; Gang Chen; Rainer Martini

doi:10.1117/12.2048512

27 February 2014 Non-resonant optical modulation of quantum cascade laser and its application potential in infrared spectroscopy

Tao Yang, Chao Tian, Gang Chen, Rainer Martini

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9002, Novel In-Plane Semiconductor Lasers XIII; 90021T (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2048512
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2014, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Based on the nature of ultra-fast carrier life time in semiconductor quantum well, optical modulation of quantum cascade laser offers an unique way to control intersubband transition through interband transition. This method circumvents the problem of parasitic effects associated with electrical modulation, resulting in a high modulation bandwidth. In addition it allows for fast wavelength modulation on standard type quantum cascade lasers by directly injecting charge carriers to laser active region with near-infrared optical excitation. Here, we demonstrate the first infrared spectroscopic measurement conducted with this all-optical modulation approach. Using wavelength modulation spectroscopy, a 1st order derivative spectrum of methanol vapor gas is observed. Optically based wavelength modulation up to 200 MHz is purely induced by pumping the front facet of quantum cascade laser with an intensity-modulated 1550 nm DFB laser. Compared with conventional direct absorption approach, the noise equivalent sensitivity is improved by a factor of 10 by adding optical modulation in a non-optimized system.

Citation Download Citation

Tao Yang, Chao Tian, Gang Chen, and Rainer Martini "Non-resonant optical modulation of quantum cascade laser and its application potential in infrared spectroscopy", Proc. SPIE 9002, Novel In-Plane Semiconductor Lasers XIII, 90021T (27 February 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2048512

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