Auswahl der wissenschaftlichen Literatur zum Thema „Lasers à cascade interbande (ICL)“

We review the history, development, design principles, experimental operating characteristics, and specialized architectures of interband cascade lasers for the mid-wave infrared spectral region. We discuss the present understanding of the mechanisms limiting the ICL performance and provide a perspective on the potential for future improvements. Such device properties as the threshold current and power densities, continuous-wave output power, and wall-plug efficiency are compared with those of the quantum cascade laser. Newer device classes such as ICL frequency combs, interband cascade vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, interband cascade LEDs, interband cascade detectors, and integrated ICLs are reviewed for the first time.

InAs-based interband cascade lasers (ICLs) can be more easily adapted toward long wavelength operation than their GaSb counterparts. Devices made from two recent ICL wafers with an advanced waveguide structure are reported, which demonstrate improved device performance in terms of reduced threshold current densities for ICLs near 11 μm or extended operating wavelength beyond 13 μm. The ICLs near 11 μm yielded a significantly reduced continuous wave (cw) lasing threshold of 23 A/cm2 at 80 K with substantially increased cw output power, compared with previously reported ICLs at similar wavelengths. ICLs made from the second wafer incorporated an innovative quantum well active region, comprised of InAsP layers, and lased in the pulsed-mode up to 120 K at 13.2 μm, which is the longest wavelength achieved for III–V interband lasers.

We describe how a midwave infrared photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that combines lasers, detectors, passive waveguides, and other optical elements may be constructed on the native GaSb substrate of an interband cascade laser (ICL) structure. The active and passive building blocks may be used, for example, to fabricate an on-chip chemical detection system with a passive sensing waveguide that evanescently couples to an ambient sample gas. A variety of highly compact architectures are described, some of which incorporate both the sensing waveguide and detector into a laser cavity defined by two high-reflectivity cleaved facets. We also describe an edge-emitting laser configuration that optimizes stability by minimizing parasitic feedback from external optical elements, and which can potentially operate with lower drive power than any mid-IR laser now available. While ICL-based PICs processed on GaSb serve to illustrate the various configurations, many of the proposed concepts apply equally to quantum-cascade-laser (QCL)-based PICs processed on InP, and PICs that integrate III-V lasers and detectors on silicon. With mature processing, it should become possible to mass-produce hundreds of individual PICs on the same chip which, when singulated, will realize chemical sensing by an extremely compact and inexpensive package.

The design of a single-mode interband cascade laser (ICL) using a slotted waveguide is presented. This technique was explored as an inexpensive alternative to distributed feedback lasers since standard photolithography can be used in fabrication and complex techniques, such as e-beam lithography, re-growth steps, and/or metal gratings, can be avoided. The design of slotted waveguides must be carefully simulated before fabrication to ensure the efficacy of the photolithography masks with each ICL growth. Limitations and the behavior of key design parameters are discussed. Single-mode emission was achieved for certain temperature and injected current conditions, validating the operation of an Sb based slotted laser. The slotted ICLs were emitting from a single longitudinal mode at 3.5 μm and 2 mW of power per facet output at 20 °C with threshold currents around 80 mA.

In this study, we propose designs of an interband cascade laser (ICL) active region able to emit in the application-relevant mid infrared (MIR) spectral range and to be grown on an InP substrate. This is a long-sought solution as it promises a combination of ICL advantages with mature and cost-effective epitaxial technology of fabricating materials and devices with high structural and optical quality, when compared to standard approaches of growing ICLs on GaSb or InAs substrates. Therefore, we theoretically investigate a family of type II, “W”-shaped quantum wells made of InGaAs/InAs/GaAsSb with different barriers, for a range of compositions assuring the strain levels acceptable from the growth point of view. The calculated band structure within the 8-band k·p approximation showed that the inclusion of a thin InAs layer into such a type II system brings a useful additional tuning knob to tailor the electronic confined states, optical transitions’ energy and their intensity. Eventually, it allows achieving the emission wavelengths from below 3 to at least 4.6 μm, while still keeping reasonably high gain when compared to the state-of-the-art ICLs. We demonstrate a good tunability of both the emission wavelength and the optical transitions’ oscillator strength, which are competitive with other approaches in the MIR. This is an original solution which has not been demonstrated so far experimentally. Such InP-based interband cascade lasers are of crucial application importance, particularly for the optical gas sensing.

In this work we show Frequency Comb (FC) and short pulsed operation of mid-infrared Interband Cascade Lasers (ICLs) in a single long section. This is through the use of an adapted ultrafast Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIPs), and correlating the microwave beatnotes with high resolution spectra of the ICL. In particular, we will show active mode-locking (ML) of single -section ICL that does not require RF optimisation of the ICL device and highlight its temporal characteristics using Shifted Wave Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (SWIFTS) analysis to reconstruct the intensity in the time domain.

In this work, we experimentally investigate the nonlinear dynamics of an interband cascade laser (ICL) under variable-aperture optical feedback implemented by a gold mirror combining with a ring-actuated iris diaphragm (RAID). By continuously varying the diameter of RAID (DR), the evolution of the dynamical state of ICL with the aperture of the optical feedback can be inspected. The characteristics of each dynamical state are characterized by time series, power spectra, phase portraits, and Lyapunov exponents. The results show that, with the decrease of DR, the dynamical state of the ICL under variable-aperture optical feedback presents an evolution from complex, simple to stable. Diverse dynamical states including period one state (P1), period two state (P2), multi-period state (MP), quasi-period state (QP), low-frequency fluctuation (LFF), chaotic state (C), and hyperchaos have been observed. Through mapping the evolution of dynamical states with DR for the ICL biased at different currents, different evolved routes of the dynamical states are revealed.

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas, N2O) is a relevant greenhouse gas. Agriculture contributes significantly to its emissions. As nitrogen fertilization has been identified as one of the main sources of N2O, controlled application and reduction of the amount of fertilizer adapted to crop demand is essential to reduce N2O emissions. This requires detailed studies of the local distribution of the N2O emission fluxes on different croplands. Consequently, frequent spatially resolved field measurements of N2O concentrations are needed. A precision in the ppb range close to the ambient N2O level of 333 ppb is necessary. Tunable laser absorption spectroscopy using quantum-cascade lasers (QCL) as a light source is an established technique for the measurement of N2O traces. We present the development and validation of a compact portable setup for on-site measurement of N2O emissions from the soil. The setup differs from previous solutions by using an interband cascade laser (ICL), which has significantly lower power consumption compared to a QCL. The portable measurement setup allows N2O emission fluxes to be determined with a precision of 3.5% with a measuring duration of 10 min. The developed system enables the detection of increased N2O emissions because of the fertilization of fields. High N2O emission fluxes are indicators of the overfertilization of the field. Directly after fertilization, N2O fluxes between 2.9 and 5.3 µL m−2 min−1 depending on the gas acquisition site are measured during the field tests. Over time, the fluxes decrease. The obtained results compare well with data from more precise but also more complex and maintenance-intensive instruments for atmospheric research. With this system, the soil moisture as well as the air humidity and air temperature are recorded. Strong influences on N2O fluxes by soil moisture were observed. The presented measurement system is a contribution to the establishment of mobile N2O screening systems that are robust in the field and suitable for comprehensive and routine detection of N2O emissions from soil.

We present a theoretical study of the nonlinear dynamics of a long external cavity delayed optical feedback-induced interband cascade laser (ICL). Using the modified Lang–Kobayashi equations, we numerically investigate the effects of some key parameters on the first Hopf bifurcation point of ICL with optical feedback, such as the delay time (τf), pump current (I), linewidth enhancement factor (LEF), stage number (m) and feedback strength (fext). It is found that compared with τf, I, LEF and m have a significant effect on the stability of the ICL. Additionally, our results show that an ICL with few stage numbers subjected to external cavity optical feedback is more susceptible to exhibiting chaos. The chaos bandwidth dependences on m, I and fext are investigated, and 8 GHz bandwidth mid-infrared chaos is observed.

Les peignes de fréquence optique (OFC) sont des sources de lumière cohérente qui émettent un large spectre de modes discrets parfaitement espacés, chacun avec une fréquence absolue mesurable avec la précision d'une horloge atomique.Les OFC dans l'infrarouge moyen (MIR 3-12 μm) sont récemment devenus d'un grand intérêt pour la spectroscopie moléculaire par la présence de forte absorption des modes de vibration et de rotation moléculaires dans la région des "empreintes digitales" spectroscopiques. Néanmoins, le fonctionnement de l'OFC dans la région cruciale de l'infrarouge moyen (MWIR 3-6 μm) reste nettement sous-développé par rapport aux autres parties du MIR.Dans ce travail, nous présentons une étude expérimentale approfondie d'une nouvelle génération de laser à cascade interbande (ICL) et de leur potentiel pour les OFC dans MWIR. La thèse apporte la preuve du régime OFC à la fois par spectroscopie des battements (BN) à haute fréquence, et par la nouvelle technique de reconstruction temporelle de la dynamique ultrarapide de ces lasers, celle-ci permettant de "visualiser" le contrôle du type de fonctionnement de l'OFC dans les ICL. En particulier, a été effectuer la caractérisation opto-électrique d'un ensemble d'ICL avec une gamme de géométries, dans le but d'étudier les ICL à faible dispersion de retard de groupe (GDD) à des longueurs d'onde plus longues que celles étudiées auparavant: un ICL fonctionnant à 3.8 μm avec une architecture en 2-sections, des ICL fonctionnant à 4.1 μm, et une autre génération d'ICL fonctionnant à une longueur d'onde de 4.2 μm conçue avec un gain spectral large. La formation du régime OFC et le GDD sont liées et importantes pour comprendre les mécanismes fondamentaux de la formation de l'OFC. Les ICL ont été étudiés à l'aide de la spectroscopie BN optique et électrique. Les verrouillages de mode passif (PML) (ou fonctionnement libre) et actif (AML) ont été démontrés. Pour les ICL à 2-sections, où l'ICL est divisé en une partie longue et une partie courte pour une seule cavité, l'effet exact de la petite section sur le BN a été explicité: permets de (a) contrôler très finement le GDD intracavité, (b) introduire des pertes et montrant que l'on converge vers un comportement PML. Ce travail étend l'étude au cas des ICL fonctionnant à des longueurs d'onde plus longues dans une cavité à section unique et où le GDD est censé être inférieur.Pour un ICL à 4.1 μm, il est montré qu'un BN optique puissant peut être verrouillé par injection radiofréquence (RF) à la fréquence d'un aller-retour de l'ICL, premières étapes de AML. Ce verrouillage par injection a été réalisé à l'aide d'une architecture laser à 1-section avec une très faible GDD montrant ainsi que l'adaptation du guide d'onde ICL au fonctionnement RF n'est pas une exigence fondamentale.Dans sa dernière partie, la thèse montre la mise en œuvre de la technique "Shifted Wave Interference Fourier Transform Spectroscopy" (SWIFTS), utilisée selon deux configurations différentes, pour reconstruire le profil d'intensité temporel du laser à des échelles de temps ultrarapides. Cela démontre la nature des OFC générés dans ces ICL. L'ICL fonctionne en régime de modulation de fréquence (FM) lorsqu'il est en fonctionnement libre et transite vers un régime de modulation d'amplitude (AM) lorsqu'il est en régime AML en par injection RF. L'étude montre également que les ICL peuvent générer des impulsions courtes de ∼6.7 ps en fonctionnement libre, malgré leur caractère FM, et met en évidence le contrôle de la largeur d'impulsion et de l'intensité maximale via l'injection RF. Cela permet de compresser d'un facteur de 2.3 les impulsions libres pour obtenir des impulsions inférieures à 3 ps.Ces travaux constituent une étape importante dans la réalisation et le contrôle des OFC dans la région MWIR. Les perspectives sont d'élargir la bande passante spectrale des ICL et de générer des impulsions ultracourtes de haute puissance dans le MWIR et au-delà
Optical frequency combs (OFCs) are coherent light sources that emit a broad spectrum of discrete, perfectly spaced modes, each with an absolute frequency measurable with the precision of an atomic clock.OFCs in the mid-infrared (MIR 3-12 μm) have recently become of great interest to molecular spectroscopy by the presence of strong absorption of molecular vibration and rotation modes in the spectroscopic "fingerprint" region. Nevertheless, the operation of the OFC in the crucial mid-infrared region (MWIR 3-6 μm) remains significantly underdeveloped compared to other parts of the MIR.In this work, we present an in-depth experimental study of a new generation of interband cascade laser (ICL) and their potential for OFCs in MWIR. The thesis provides proof of the OFC regime both by high-frequency beatnote spectroscopy (BN), and by the new technique of temporal reconstruction of the ultrafast dynamics of these lasers, this making it possible to "visualize" the control of the type of operation of the OFC in ICL. In particular, was carried out the optoelectrical characterization of a set of ICLs with a range of geometries, with the aim of studying low group delay dispersion (GDD) ICLs at longer wavelengths than those previously studied: an ICL operating at 3.8 μm with a 2-section architecture, ICLs operating at 4.1 μm, and another generation of ICL operating at a wavelength of 4.2 μm designed with a wide spectral gain. OFC regime formation and GDD are linked and important for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of OFC formation. ICLs were studied using optical and electrical BN spectroscopy. Passive mode locking (PML) (or free running) and active mode locking (AML) were demonstrated. For 2-section ICLs, where the ICL is divided into a long part and a short part for a single cavity, the exact effect of the small section on the BN has been explained: allows to (a) control very finely the intracavity GDD, (b) introducing losses and showing that we converge towards PML behavior.This work then feeds into the case of ICLs operating at longer wavelengths in a single section cavity and where the GDD is expected to be less. In the particular case of the ICLs operating at 4.1 μm, we demonstrate a strong optical BN, which can be injection locked by radio frequency (RF) injection at the round trip frequency of the ICL, showing the first-steps of active modelocking. This injection locking was achieved using a simple single-section laser architecture with very low waveguide dispersion, and showing that adapting the ICL waveguide for RF operation is not a fundamental requirement. In the final part of the thesis, we show the implementation of the "Shifted Wave Interference Fourier Transform Spectroscopy" (SWIFTS) technique, used in two different configurations, to reconstruct the laser's temporal intensity profile at ultrafast timescales. This permits to demonstrate the nature of OFC generated in these ICLs. Indeed, we show that the ICL operates in the frequency modulation (FM) regime when free-running and transits towards an amplitude modulation (AM) regime when actively modelocked. Interestingly, we also show that ICLs can generate short pulses of ~6.7 ps in free-running operation, despite FM operation, and highlight the control of the pulse width and peak intensity via RF injection. This permits to compress the free-running pulses by a factor of 2.3 to obtain sub-3 ps pulses.This work constitutes an important step in the creation and control of OFCs in the MWIR region. The prospects are to broaden the spectral bandwidth of ICLs and generate high-power ultrashort pulses in the MWIR and beyond

Abstract A high-speed in-situ laser absorption sensor has been developed for cycle-resolved emissions analysis in the exhaust manifold of production-scale internal combustion engines. An inline sensor module, using optical fiber-coupling of interband and quantum cascade lasers, targets the fundamental rovibrational absorption lines of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide near 5 μm in wavelength. The sensor module was integrated into a commercial EPA-certified natural gas spark-ignition generator operated at 3,300 rpm for measurements of exhaust pulse temperature, CO, and NO concentrations at a rate of 10 kHz. Novel high-temperature optomechanical design enabled in-stream sensor coupling near the exhaust valve with local gas temperatures up to ∼1200 K and valve to sensor gas transit times on the order of milliseconds. Measurement results reveal high degrees of intra-cycle and cycle-to-cycle variations which are otherwise undetectable with standard emission gas analyzers. Sensor response to variations in fuel composition was evaluated by introduction of 1–10% NH3 or H2 into the natural gas fuel system. The effects of fuel blending on exhaust emissions of CO and NO were well-distinguished even at 1% volume fraction, and the sensor captured both intra-cycle and cycle-averaged emissions differences between the three fuel types. Measured concentrations of CO and NO ranged from 0.1–2.8% and 30–3500 ppm with detection limits of 0.07% and 26 ppm, respectively. The exhaust sensor presented here has potential for integration with real-time control systems to enable adaptive optimization of polyfuel internal combustion engines to meet the need for flexible, low-carbon, on-demand energy conversion.

The chemical kinetics of the oxidation of n-heptane (C7H16) — an important reference compound for real fuels — are well studied at stoichiometric and lean conditions. However, there is only limited information on the chemical kinetics of fuel-rich combustion. In order to improve the accuracy of chemical kinetic models at these conditions, the oxidation of rich n-heptane mixtures has been investigated. Combustion of n-C7H16/O2/Ar mixtures at equivalence ratios, ϕ, of 2.0 behind reflected shock waves has been studied at temperatures ranging from 1075 to 1418K and at pressures ranging from 1.6 to 1.9atm. Reaction progress was monitored by recording ethylene (C2H4) concentration time-histories and initial n-heptane decay rates at a location 2cm from the endwall of a 13.4m long, 14cm inner diameter shock tube. Ethylene and n-heptane concentration time-histories were measured using absorption spectroscopy at 10.532μm from a tunable CO2 laser and at around 3.4μm from a continuous wave distributed feedback interband cascade laser (ICL), respectively. The measured concentration time-histories were compared with modeled predictions from the Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) detailed n-heptane reaction mechanism. To the best of our knowledge, the current data are the first time-resolved n-heptane and ethylene concentration measurements conducted in a shock tube at these conditions.