公开(公告)号：US06940639B1

公开(公告)日：2005-09-06

申请号：US10812328

申请日：2004-03-29

申请人： Alexey Belyanin ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Oana Malis ,  Milton L. Peabody, Jr. ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco

发明人： Alexey Belyanin ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Oana Malis ,  Milton L. Peabody, Jr. ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco

IPC分类号： G02F1/017 ,  G02F1/377 ,  G02F1/39 ,  G02B6/10 ,  H01S5/34

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  G02F1/01708 ,  G02F1/377 ,  G02F1/395 ,  G02F2001/01733 ,  G02F2001/01775

摘要： An optical device comprises a cavity resonator and an intracavity ridge waveguide. The ridge waveguide includes a monolithically integrated intersubband core region and a nonlinear mixing region (NMR). In response to external pumping energy the core region generates laser light at a first frequency and in a first transverse mode. In response to the laser light the NMR generates parametric light at a second frequency and in a second transverse mode. For phase matching the effective-refractive-index-versus-ridge-width characteristics of the modes of the laser and the parametric light intersect one another at a phase matching width and so that, at greater widths, the effective refractive index of the mode of the higher frequency light is less than that of the lower frequency light. For true phase matching the width of the ridge is made to be essentially equal to the phase matching width.

摘要翻译： 光学装置包括空腔谐振器和腔内脊波导。 脊波导包括单片集成的子带核心区域和非线性混合区域（NMR）。 响应于外部泵浦能量，核心区域以第一频率和第一横向模式产生激光。 响应于激光，NMR以第二频率和第二横向模式产生参数光。 对于相位匹配，激光器和参量光的模式的有效折射率与脊宽度特性以相位匹配宽度彼此相交，并且使得在较大宽度下，有效折射率的模式 较高频率的光小于较低频率的光。 为了实现相位匹配，使得脊的宽度基本上等于相位匹配宽度。

公开(公告)号：US07092421B2

公开(公告)日：2006-08-15

申请号：US10651466

申请日：2003-08-30

申请人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Raffaele Colombelli ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Oskar Jon Painter ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Kartik Srinivasan ,  Donald Milan Tennant ,  Mariano Troccoli

发明人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Raffaele Colombelli ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Oskar Jon Painter ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Kartik Srinivasan ,  Donald Milan Tennant ,  Mariano Troccoli

IPC分类号： H01S3/19

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  H01S5/1042 ,  H01S5/105 ,  H01S5/187 ,  H01S5/3213 ,  H01S5/3422 ,  H01S5/4087 ,  H01S5/42 ,  H01S2302/02

摘要： An optoelectronic transducer comprises a unipolar, intraband active region and a micro-cavity resonator. The resonator includes a 2D array of essentially equally spaced regions that exhibits resonant modes. Each of the spaced regions has a depth that extends through the active region and has an average refractive index that is different from that of the active region. The refractive index contrast, the spacing of the spaced regions, and the dimensions of the spaced regions are mutually adapted so that the array acts as a micro-cavity resonator and so that at least one frequency of the resonant modes of the array falls within the spectrum of an optoelectronic parameter of the active region (i.e., the gain spectrum where the transducer is a laser; the absorption spectrum where the transducer is a photodetector). In a first embodiment, the transducer is an ISB laser, whereas in a second embodiment it is a unipolar, intraband photodetector. In other embodiments, the laser is a surface-emitting ISB laser and the photodetector is a vertically-illuminated detector. In another embodiment, a nonlinear optical material is optically coupled to the micro-cavity resonator, which in one case allows an ISB laser to exhibit bistable operation.

摘要翻译： 光电转换器包括单极性，内部有源区和微腔谐振器。 谐振器包括呈现谐振模式的基本上等间隔的区域的2D阵列。 每个间隔区域具有延伸穿过有源区域并具有不同于有源区域的平均折射率的深度。 折射率对比度，间隔区域的间隔和间隔区域的尺寸相互适应，使得阵列充当微腔谐振器，并且使得阵列的谐振模式的至少一个频率落入 有源区的光电参数的光谱（即，换能器是激光的增益光谱;换能器是光电检测器的吸收光谱）。 在第一实施例中，换能器是ISB激光器，而在第二实施例中，它是单极的，内部的光检测器。 在其他实施例中，激光是表面发射ISB激光器，并且光电检测器是垂直照明的检测器。 在另一个实施例中，非线性光学材料光耦合到微腔谐振器，在一种情况下允许ISB激光器呈现双稳态操作。

公开(公告)号：US07010010B2

公开(公告)日：2006-03-07

申请号：US10465253

申请日：2003-06-19

申请人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Milton L. Peabody ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Alexander Soibel

发明人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Milton L. Peabody ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Alexander Soibel

IPC分类号： H01S5/00

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  H01S5/06 ,  H01S5/1096 ,  H01S5/22 ,  H01S5/2214 ,  H01S5/3422 ,  H01S5/34306 ,  H01S5/34313 ,  H01S2304/02

摘要： A broadband CLE capable of operation simultaneously at multiple wavelengths comprises: a core region including a multiplicity or cascade of stages, each stage including a radiative transition region. A first group of stages emits radiation at a first wavelength and at a first aggregate intensity per group, and a second group of stages emits radiation at a second wavelength and at a second aggregate intensity per group lower than the first intensity. The invention is characterized in that the second group has more stages than said first group, and the per-stage intensity of the first group is greater than that of the second group. This design reduces the difference between said first and second aggregate intensities. In one embodiment, groups that are located at or near to the ends of the cascade have more stages than groups that are centrally located within the cascade regardless of their wavelength. Our invention significantly reduces variations in modal gain across the desired broadband spectrum and produces sufficiently flat gain without requiring elaborate redesign of the stages. These features enable cw operation of a broadband intersubband laser.

摘要翻译： 能够在多个波长同时运行的宽带CLE包括：包括多个或级联级的核心区域，每个阶段包括辐射过渡区域。 第一组阶段以每组发射第一波长和第一聚集强度的辐射，而第二组阶段以低于第一强度的第二波长发射辐射，并以每组的第二聚集强度发射。 本发明的特征在于，第二组具有比所述第一组更多的阶段，并且第一组的每阶段强度大于第二组的每阶段强度。 该设计减少了所述第一和第二聚集强度之间的差异。 在一个实施例中，位于级联端部处或附近的组具有比级联中心位置的级更多的级，而不管它们的波长如何。 我们的发明显着地减少了所需宽带频谱的模态增益的变化，并产生足够平坦的增益，而不需要对级进行精心的重新设计。 这些功能可以实现宽带子带间激光器的cw操作。

公开(公告)号：US06795467B2

公开(公告)日：2004-09-21

申请号：US09826237

申请日：2001-04-04

申请人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Raffaele Colombelli ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Albert Lee Hutchinson ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Alessandro Tredicucci

发明人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Raffaele Colombelli ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Albert Lee Hutchinson ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Alessandro Tredicucci

IPC分类号： H01S319

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  H01S5/0014 ,  H01S5/0264 ,  H01S5/0683 ,  H01S5/1078 ,  H01S5/3402

摘要： The measurement of intersubband electroluminescence (ISB-EL) in unipolar quantum cascade lasers is achieved by forming a longitudinal cleave through the active region and waveguide of the QC laser device, exposing a complete side face of the device, including the active region. The conventional laser facets at the entrance and exit of the active region are coated with a highly reflective material and the emission from the exposed side face is measured. In theory, the sideface emission would comprise only the ISB-EL spontaneous emission, but some additional laser emission (due to scattering in the imperfect waveguide structure) also exits along this sideface. Spatial filtering and/or polarization monitoring can be used to differentiate the laser emission from the ISB-EL spontaneous emission.

摘要翻译： 在单极量子级联激光器中的子带间电致发光（ISB-EL）的测量通过形成纵向切割通过QC激光器件的有源区和波导来实现，暴露了包括有源区的器件的完整侧面。 在有源区域的入口和出口处的常规激光刻面涂覆有高反射材料，并且测量来自暴露侧面的发射。 在理论上，侧面发射将仅包括ISB-EL自发发射，但是一些额外的激光发射（由于在不完美的波导结构中的散射）也沿该侧面退出。 空间滤波和/或偏振监测可用于区分激光发射与ISB-EL自发发射。

公开(公告)号：US06556604B1

公开(公告)日：2003-04-29

申请号：US09708223

申请日：2000-11-08

申请人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Sung-Nee George Chu ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Albert Lee Hutchinson ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Alessandro Tredicucci ,  Michael Clement Wanke

发明人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Sung-Nee George Chu ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Albert Lee Hutchinson ,  Arthur Mike Sergent ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Alessandro Tredicucci ,  Michael Clement Wanke

IPC分类号： H01S500

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  H01S5/3402 ,  H01S5/3407

摘要： The RT regions of an ISB light emitter comprise pre-biased SLs and a multiplicity of split quantum wells (SPQWs). A SPQW is a quantum well that is divided into a multiplicity of sub-wells by a first barrier layer sufficiently thin that the upper and lower energy states are split beyond their natural broadening and contribute to different minibands in each RT region. In contrast, adjacent SPQWs are coupled to one another by second barrier layers. The thicknesses of the latter layers are chosen so that minibands are created across each RT region. In one embodiment, the emitter includes an I/R region between adjacent RT regions, and in another embodiment the I/R regions are omitted.

摘要翻译： ISB光发射器的RT区域包括预偏置SL和多个分裂量子阱（SPQW）。 SPQW是通过第一势垒层被分成多个子阱的量子阱，其足够薄，使得上部和下部能量状态被分裂超出它们的自然扩宽并且有助于每个RT区域中的不同的微型物体。 相反，相邻的SPQW通过第二阻挡层相互耦合。 选择后一层的厚度，以便在每个RT区域上形成最小值。 在一个实施例中，发射器包括相邻RT区域之间的I / R区域，在另一实施例中，I / R区域被省略。

公开(公告)号：US06836499B2

公开(公告)日：2004-12-28

申请号：US10155562

申请日：2002-05-24

申请人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Mariano Troccoli

发明人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Mariano Troccoli

IPC分类号： H01S500

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  H01S5/026 ,  H01S5/1064 ,  H01S5/12 ,  H01S5/3402 ,  H01S5/50

摘要： Techniques for amplifying light produced by a quantum cascade laser are described. An assembly according to the present invention includes an optical amplifier having an optical input and an optical output. The optical output has an area significantly greater than that of the optical output and the geometry of the amplifier is such that the amplifier widens from the optical input to the optical output. The optical amplifier is formed of a layered waveguide structure which achieves quantum confinement of electrons and photons within the active region. A distributed feedback laser is suitably coupled to the optical amplifier at the optical input of the amplifier. The widening of the amplifier makes available a large number of electrons, so that the amplifier is able to produce many photons resulting from stimulated transitions caused by introduction of light to the optical input of the amplifier, even if the great majority of the transitions occur nonradiatively.

摘要翻译： 描述用于放大由量子级联激光器产生的光的技术。 根据本发明的组件包括具有光输入和光输出的光放大器。 光输出具有明显大于光输出的面积，并且放大器的几何形状使得放大器从光输入增宽到光输出。 光放大器由层状波导结构形成，其在有源区内实现电子和光子的量子限制。 分布式反馈激光器适当地耦合到放大器的光输入处的光放大器。 放大器的加宽使得可以获得大量的电子，使得放大器能够产生由于通过向放大器的光输入引入光引起的受激变换而产生的许多光子，即使绝大多数的跃迁是非辐射的 。

公开(公告)号：US06728282B2

公开(公告)日：2004-04-27

申请号：US09883542

申请日：2001-06-18

申请人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Rafaelle Colombelli ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Hock Min Ng ,  Deborah Lee Sivco

发明人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Rafaelle Colombelli ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Hock Min Ng ,  Deborah Lee Sivco

IPC分类号： H01S500

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  H01S5/3402 ,  H01S5/3422 ,  H01S5/4087 ,  H01S2301/18

摘要： An optical device includes a stack of at least two different intersubband (ISB) optical sub-devices in which the gain/loss profiles of the individual ISB sub-devices are mutually adapted, or engineered, so as to generate a predetermined overall function for the combination. We define this combination device as being heterogeneous since not all of the individual ISB sub-devices are identical to one another. Illustratively, the parameters of each individual ISB sub-device that might be subject to this engineering process include: the peak energy of the ISB optical transitions (emission or absorption) associated with each RT region, the position of each sub-device in the stack; the oscillator strengths of these ISB transitions; the energy bandwidth of each transition; and the total length of the RT and I/R regions of each ISB sub-device. In one embodiment, our approach may be used to engineer a gain profile that has peaks at a multiplicity of different wavelengths, thus realizing a multi-wavelength ISB optical source in which the applied electric field self-proportions itself so that each individual ISB sub-device experiences the appropriate field strength for its particular design. Alternatively, the gain profile may be engineered to be relatively flat over a predetermined wavelength range. In another embodiment, our approach may be used to generate a function that compensates for a characteristic of another device. For example, our heterogeneous ISB device may be engineered to have a gain profile that compensates for the loss profile of another device. Alternatively, the gain/loss profile may be engineered to produce a nonlinear refractive index profile in our device that compensates for that of another device (e.g., an optical fiber).

摘要翻译： 光学装置包括至少两个不同的子带间（ISB）光学子装置的叠层，其中各个ISB子装置的增益/损耗曲线相互适应或设计，以便产生预定的整体功能 组合。 我们将此组合设备定义为异构，因为并非所有的单个ISB子设备都是相同的。 示例性地，可能受该工程过程影响的各个ISB子设备的参数包括：与每个RT区域相关联的ISB光学跃迁（发射或吸收）的峰值能量，堆叠中每个子设备的位置 ; 这些ISB转换的振荡器强度; 每个过渡的能量带宽; 以及每个ISB子设备的RT和I / R区域的总长度。 在一个实施例中，我们的方法可以用于设计在多个不同波长处具有峰值的增益分布，从而实现多波长ISB光源，其中所施加的电场自身比例，使得每个单独的ISB子载波， 设备体验其特定设计的适当场强。 或者，增益分布可以被设计为在预定波长范围上相对平坦。 在另一个实施例中，我们的方法可以用于产生补偿另一设备的特性的功能。 例如，我们的异构ISB设备可以被设计为具有补偿另一设备的丢失简档的增益简档。 或者，增益/损耗曲线可以被设计为在我们的装置中产生非线性折射率分布，其补偿另一装置（例如，光纤）的折射率分布。

公开(公告)号：US06333944B1

公开(公告)日：2001-12-25

申请号：US09591716

申请日：2000-06-12

申请人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Evgueni E. Narimanov ,  Alfred Douglas Stone

发明人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Evgueni E. Narimanov ,  Alfred Douglas Stone

IPC分类号： H01S3083

CPC分类号： H01S3/083

摘要： A solid state laser comprises a cavity resonator in the form of a generally cylindrical body and, located within the resonator, an active region which generates lasing light when suitably pumped. The resonator has a relatively high effective refractive index (n>2 and typically n>3) is sufficiently deformed from circularity so as to support at least one librational mode (e.g., a V-shaped or a bow-tie mode, the latter being presently preferred for generating relatively high power, directional outputs). Specifically described is a Group III-V compound semiconductor, quantum cascade (QC), micro-cylinder laser in which the resonator has a flattened quadrupolar deformation from circularity. This laser exhibits both a highly directional output emission and a three-order of magnitude increase in optical output power compared to conventional semiconductor micro-cylinder QC lasers having circularly symmetric resonators.

摘要翻译： 固体激光器包括呈大致圆柱形体形式的空腔谐振器，并且位于谐振器内部的有源区域，其在适当泵浦时产生激光。 谐振器具有相对较高的有效折射率（n> 2且通常n> 3）从圆形度充分变形，以便支持至少一种示范模式（例如，V形或蝴蝶结模式，后者为 目前优选用于产生相对高功率的方向输出）。 具体描述的是其中谐振器具有从圆形度的扁平四极变形的III-V族化合物半导体，量子级联（QC），微圆柱激光器。 与具有圆形对称谐振器的常规半导体微型气缸QC激光器相比，该激光器表现出高度方向性的输出发射和光输出功率三位数的增加。

公开(公告)号：US06324199B1

公开(公告)日：2001-11-27

申请号：US09195260

申请日：1998-11-18

申请人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Sung-Nee George Chu ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Albert Lee Hutchinson ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Alessandro Tredicucci

发明人： Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Sung-Nee George Chu ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Albert Lee Hutchinson ,  Deborah Lee Sivco ,  Alessandro Tredicucci

IPC分类号： H01S500

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  H01S5/3402

摘要： An intersubband semiconductor light source comprises a core region that includes a unipolar, radiative transition (RT) region having upper and lower energy levels, an injector-only (I) region disposed on one side of the RT region, and a reflector/extractor-only (R/E) region disposed on the other side of the RT region. The I region has a first miniband of energy levels aligned so as to inject electrons into the upper energy level, and the R/E region has a second miniband of energy levels aligned so as to extract electrons from the lower energy level. The R/E region also has a minigap aligned so as to inhibit the extraction of electrons from the upper level. A suitable voltage applied across the core region is effective to cause the RT region to generate light at a wavelength determined by the energy difference between the upper and lower energy levels. Low voltage operation at less than 3 V is described.

摘要翻译： 子带间半导体光源包括芯区域，其包括具有上和下能级的单极辐射跃迁（RT）区域，设置在RT区域的一侧上的仅注射器（I）区域，以及反射器/ （R / E）区域设置在RT区域的另一侧。 I区具有对准能量水平的第一小能级以将电子注入到上能量级中，并且R / E区具有对准的能级的第二小容纳，从而从较低的能级提取电子。 R / E区域也具有微小的栅极排列，从而抑制从上层提取电子。 在芯区域上施加的合适电压有效地使得RT区域产生由上和下能量级之间的能量差确定的波长的光。 描述低于3V的低电压操作。

公开(公告)号：US5901168A

公开(公告)日：1999-05-04

申请号：US852646

申请日：1997-05-07

申请人： James Nelson Baillargeon ,  Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Jerome Faist ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Carlo Sirtori ,  Deborah Lee Sivco

发明人： James Nelson Baillargeon ,  Federico Capasso ,  Alfred Yi Cho ,  Jerome Faist ,  Claire F. Gmachl ,  Carlo Sirtori ,  Deborah Lee Sivco

IPC分类号： H01S5/00 ,  H01S5/06 ,  H01S5/062 ,  H01S5/12 ,  H01S5/34 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/19

CPC分类号： B82Y20/00 ,  H01S5/3402 ,  H01S5/0612 ,  H01S5/06203 ,  H01S5/06243 ,  H01S5/12 ,  H01S5/1228

摘要： It has been found that previously known quantum cascade (QC) lasers have a shortcoming that substantially decreases their usefulness as radiation sources for pollution monitoring and other potential applications that involve absorption measurements. Except at cryogenic temperatures, these lasers have to be driven in pulse mode and are inherently multimode. We have now established that this shortcoming can be overcome by provision of appropriate distributed feedback. Resulting lasers (QC-DFB lasers) can have single mode mid-IR output at or near room temperature, can have significant optical power, and be continuously tunable over a significant spectral region.

摘要翻译： 已经发现，先前已知的量子级联（QC）激光器具有显着降低其作为用于污染监测的辐射源和涉及吸收测量的其它潜在应用的有用性的缺点。 除了在低温下，这些激光器必须以脉冲模式驱动，并且固有地是多模式的。 我们现在已经确定，可以通过提供适当的分布式反馈来克服这个缺点。 所产生的激光器（QC-DFB激光器）可以在室温或接近室温的单模中红外输出，可以具有显着的光功率，并且可以在显着的光谱区域上连续可调。