Large-signal modulation in distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers for coherent multiharmonic signal generation Articles uri icon

publication date

  • September 2018

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 8

issue

  • 351

volume

  • 50

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0306-8919

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1572-817X

abstract

  • In this Letter, an experimental analysis for coherent multiharmonic signal generation in quantum cascade lasers is presented. The underlying principle relies on the direct modulation of the laser with a large sinusoidal wave to drive the laser above and below threshold. This generates a multiharmonic optical signal in the frequency domain as the device is forced to respond in a nonlinear fashion. The impact of the modulation parameters is assessed in the resultant optical spectrum of a continuous-wave distributed feedback quantum cascade laser. Despite not creating pulses due to the ultrafast dynamics of the laser, the results reveal that a comb structure with uniform line spacing and high phase correlation between teeth can be straightforwardly generated.

subjects

  • Electronics

keywords

  • distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers; large-signal modulation; multiharmonic generation; optical frequency comb; radiofrequency photonics