Mid-infrared frequency combs and pulse generation based on single section interband cascade lasers
Abstract
Interband cascade lasers (ICLs) are semiconductor lasers emitting in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR 3–6 μm) and can operate as frequency combs (FCs). These demonstrations are based on double section cavities that can reduce dispersion and/or are adapted for radio frequency operation. Here, we show that ICL FCs at long wavelengths, where the refractive index dispersion reduces, can be realized in a single long section cavity. We show FC generation for ICLs operating at λ ∼ 4.2 μm, demonstrating narrow electrical beatnotes over a large current range. We also reconstruct the ultrafast temporal response through a modified shifted wave interference Fourier transform spectroscopy setup with two fast MWIR detectors, which shows a frequency modulated response in free running operation. Further, we show that, through active mode-locking, the ICL can be forced to generate short pulses on the order of 3 ps. This temporal response is in agreement with Maxwell–Bloch simulations, highlighting that these devices possess long dynamics (∼100 ps) and potentially makes them appropriate for the generation of large peak powers in the MWIR.
Article Details
Journal Info
Applied Physics Letters
American Institute of Physics
Authors (13)
Pavel Abajyan
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris 1 , 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris,
Baptiste Chomet
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris 1 , 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris,
Daniel A. Diaz-Thomas
IES, Université de Montpellier, CNRS 2 , F-34000 Montpellier,
Mohammadreza Saemian
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris 1 , 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris,
Martin Mičica
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris 1 , 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris,
Juliette Mangeney
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris 1 , 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris,
Jerome Tignon
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris 1 , 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris,
Alexei N. Baranov
IES, Université de Montpellier, CNRS 2 , F-34000 Montpellier,
Konstantinos Pantzas
C2N, CNRS-Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay 3 , 10 Avenue Thomas Gobert, F-91120 Palaiseau,
Isabelle Sagnes
C2N, CNRS-Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay 3 , 10 Avenue Thomas Gobert, F-91120 Palaiseau,
Carlo Sirtori
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris 1 , 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris,
Laurent Cerutti
IES, Université de Montpellier, CNRS 2 , F-34000 Montpellier,
Sukhdeep Dhillon
Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole normale supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris 1 , 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris,