Frequency and power stabilization of a terahertz quantum-cascade laser using near-infrared optical excitation

We demonstrate a technique to simultaneously stabilize the frequency and output power of a terahertz quantum-cascade laser (QCL). This technique exploits frequency and power variations upon near-infrared illumination of the QCL with a diode laser. It does not require an external terahertz optical mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics express 2019-12, Vol.27 (25), p.36846-36854
Main Authors: Alam, T, Wienold, M, Lü, X, Biermann, K, Schrottke, L, Grahn, H T, Hübers, H-W
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We demonstrate a technique to simultaneously stabilize the frequency and output power of a terahertz quantum-cascade laser (QCL). This technique exploits frequency and power variations upon near-infrared illumination of the QCL with a diode laser. It does not require an external terahertz optical modulator. By locking the frequency to a molecular absorption line, we obtain a long-term (one-hour) linewidth of 260 kHz (full width at half maximum) and a root-mean-square power stability below 0.03%. With respect to the free-running case, this stabilization scheme improves the frequency stability by nearly two orders of magnitude and the power stability by a factor of three.
ISSN:1094-4087
1094-4087
DOI:10.1364/OE.27.036846