Wavelength tuning and thermal dynamics of continuous-wave mid-infrared distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers

We report on the wavelength tuning dynamics in continuous-wave distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). The wavelength tuning response for direct current modulation of two mid-IR QCLs from different suppliers was measured from 10 Hz up to several MHz using ro-vibrational molecular resonan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 2013-07, Vol.103 (3)
Main Authors: Tombez, Lionel, Cappelli, Francesco, Schilt, Stéphane, Di Domenico, Gianni, Bartalini, Saverio, Hofstetter, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We report on the wavelength tuning dynamics in continuous-wave distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). The wavelength tuning response for direct current modulation of two mid-IR QCLs from different suppliers was measured from 10 Hz up to several MHz using ro-vibrational molecular resonances as frequency-to-intensity converters. Unlike the output intensity, which can be modulated up to several gigahertz, the frequency-modulation bandwidth was found to be on the order of 200 kHz, limited by the laser thermal dynamics. A non-negligible roll-off and a significant phase shift are observed above a few hundred hertz already and explained by a thermal model.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.4813753