Maximizing Performance of Quantum Cascade Laser-Pumped Molecular Lasers
Name
PhysRevApplied.16.024010.pdf
Size
1.58 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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Author(s)
Wang, Fan
Johnson, Steven G
Everitt, Henry O.
Date Issued
August 2021
Journal
Physics Review Applied
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Citation
Wang, Fan et al. "Maximizing Performance of Quantum Cascade Laser-Pumped Molecular Lasers." Physics Review Applied 16, 2 (August 2021): 024010. © 2021 American Physical Society
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Quantum-cascade-laser- (QCL) pumped molecular lasers (QPMLs) have recently been introduced as a source of powerful (>1 mW) tunable (>1 THz) narrow-band (<10 kHz) continuous-wave terahertz radiation. The performance of these lasers depends critically on molecular collision physics, pump saturation, and on the design of the laser cavity. Using a validated three-level model that captures the essential collision and saturation behaviors of the QPML gas nitrous oxide (N₂O), we explore how the threshold pump power and output terahertz power depend on the pump power and gas pressure, as well as on the diameter, length, and output-coupler transmissivity of a cylindrical cavity. The analysis indicates that maximum power occurs as pump saturation is minimized in a manner that depends much more sensitively on pressure than on cell diameter, length, or transmissivity. A near-optimal compact laser cavity can produce tens of milliwatts of power tunable over frequencies above 1 THz when pumped by a multiwatt QCL.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.16.024010
