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Characterizing the beam properties of terahertz quantum-cascade lasers

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Abstract

Terahertz quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) are very promising radiation sources for many scientific and commercial applications. Shaping and characterizing the beam profile of a QCL is crucial for any of these applications. Usually the beam profile should be as close as possible to a fundamental Gaussian TEM00 mode. In order to completely characterize the laser beam the power and the wavefront have to be measured. We describe methods for characterizing the beam properties of QCLs. Several QCLs with single-plasmon waveguide and emission frequencies between 2 and 5 THz are investigated. The beam profiles of these lasers are shaped into almost fundamental Gaussian modes using dedicated lenses. The beam propagation factor M2 is as low as 1.2. The wavefront is measured along the axis of propagation with a THz Hartmann sensor. Its curvature behaves as expected for a Gaussian beam. The applied methods can be transferred to any other THz beam.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank A. Tredicucci from NEST-CNR in Pisa, Italy, and H.T. Grahn, M. Giehler, R. Hey, L. Schrottke, and M. Wienold from Paul Drude Institute in Berlin, Germany, for providing QCLs and for many fruitful discussions. They thank J. Pfund from Optocraft GmbH, Germany, for support with the wavefront analysis software and R. Eichholz from DLR for support with the beam profile measurements. N. R. acknowledges support by the Helmholtz Research School on Security Technologies. This work was supported in part by the Investitionsbank Berlin (grant no. 10146488 and 10146490) within the EFRE program of the European Union.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    H. Richter, N. Rothbart & H.-W. Hübers

  2. Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    H.-W. Hübers

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Richter, H., Rothbart, N. & Hübers, HW. Characterizing the beam properties of terahertz quantum-cascade lasers. J Infrared Milli Terahz Waves 35, 686–698 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-014-0084-x

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