{"title":"Recent developments in terahertz quantum cascade lasers for practical applications","authors":"Liang Gao, Chao Feng, Xian Zhao","doi":"10.1515/ntrev-2023-0115","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) is an electrically pumped unipolar photonic device in which light emission takes place due to electronic transitions between subbands formed by multiple strongly coupled quantum wells. THz QCL is arguably the most promising solid-state source to realize various THz applications, such as high-resolution spectroscopy, real-time imaging, chemical and biological sensing, and high-speed wireless communication. To date, THz QCLs have covered emitting frequency from 1.2 to 5.4 THz when operating without the assistance of an external magnetic field. The highest output power is in hundreds milliwatt and watt levels continuous-mode and pulsed-mode operations, respectively. THz QCL-based local oscillators have been implemented in astronomy for the identification of atoms and ions. However, there are also limitations, including under room-temperature operation, large divergent beam, narrow single-mode frequency tuning range, incomplete polarization control, and narrow-range frequency comb operation that hinder the widespread applications of THz QCLs. Continuous efforts have been made to improve those THz QCL properties in order to satisfy the requirements of different THz applications. This report will review the key output characteristic developments of THz QCLs in the past few years, which aim to speed up THz QCLs toward practical applications.","PeriodicalId":18839,"journal":{"name":"Nanotechnology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1000,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nanotechnology Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2023-0115","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Abstract Terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) is an electrically pumped unipolar photonic device in which light emission takes place due to electronic transitions between subbands formed by multiple strongly coupled quantum wells. THz QCL is arguably the most promising solid-state source to realize various THz applications, such as high-resolution spectroscopy, real-time imaging, chemical and biological sensing, and high-speed wireless communication. To date, THz QCLs have covered emitting frequency from 1.2 to 5.4 THz when operating without the assistance of an external magnetic field. The highest output power is in hundreds milliwatt and watt levels continuous-mode and pulsed-mode operations, respectively. THz QCL-based local oscillators have been implemented in astronomy for the identification of atoms and ions. However, there are also limitations, including under room-temperature operation, large divergent beam, narrow single-mode frequency tuning range, incomplete polarization control, and narrow-range frequency comb operation that hinder the widespread applications of THz QCLs. Continuous efforts have been made to improve those THz QCL properties in order to satisfy the requirements of different THz applications. This report will review the key output characteristic developments of THz QCLs in the past few years, which aim to speed up THz QCLs toward practical applications.
期刊介绍:
The bimonthly journal Nanotechnology Reviews provides a platform for scientists and engineers of all involved disciplines to exchange important recent research on fundamental as well as applied aspects. While expert reviews provide a state of the art assessment on a specific topic, research highlight contributions present most recent and novel findings.
In addition to technical contributions, Nanotechnology Reviews publishes articles on implications of nanotechnology for society, environment, education, intellectual property, industry, and politics.