High efficiency coupling of Terahertz micro-ring quantum cascade lasers to the low-loss optical modes of hollow metallic waveguides

Opt Express. 2011 Jan 17;19(2):1122-30. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.001122.

Abstract

We demonstrate that azimuthally polarized surface emitting Terahertz quantum cascade lasers fabricated in a micro-ring resonator geometry can be coupled to cylindrical hollow aluminum waveguides reaching efficiencies as high ≈98%, when a collimating lens is used. By placing the waveguide in close contact with the QCL in a simple back-to-back geometry, the laser mode can be perfectly matched with the low loss TE(01) waveguide mode showing attenuation losses as low as ≈2.3-2.7 dB/m at 3.2 THz.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Lasers*
  • Metals / chemistry*
  • Miniaturization
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Terahertz Radiation
  • Transducers*

Substances

  • Metals