Design, fabrication and characterization of high-performance terahertz quantum cascade lasers

高性能太赫兹量子级联激光器的设计、制造和表征

• 批准号: 328379-2011
• 负责人: Ban, Dayan
• 金额: $ 2.33万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=549232
• 关键词: Design; fabrication; characterization; performance; terahertz

Electromagnetic waves in the terahertz frequency range (1-10 THz, 1THz = 1E12 Hz) have attracted intense interest because of their potential for many important applications: bio-chemical species detection, astronomical spectroscopy, terahertz imaging and optical wireless communication, to name a few. Application progress of terahertz technologies has been hampered by the lack of compact, low-energy-consumption, solid-state based and easily-operational terahertz sources and detectors. The situation has started to change recently, particularly after the invention of the first semiconductor quantum cascade laser working in the terahertz frequency range reported in 2002. The development of terahertz quantum cascade lasers has proceeded rapidly, nevertheless, there are still many technical challenges to further improve device performance. Among them, to achieve room-temperature lasing and high-power operation of terahertz quantum cascade lasers might be the biggest challenge. This proposed project will tackle the technical challenges by means of combined experimental and theoretical approaches. The objectives of the proposal include 1) to develop a comprehensive knowledge base on the underlying physics of intersubband transition and carrier dynamics in the quantum semiconductor heterostructures; 2) to develop a simulation package that can numerically calculate the important parameters of the quantum heterostructures and the overall performance of the quantum cascade lasers for comparison to experimental results; 3) to explore new quantum structures (such as a structure based on double phonon relaxation for carrier injection and extraction) that could outperform the existing quantum active-region designs in order to push higher the operating temperature; 4) to fabricate and characterize quantum cascade lasers with new structures and to apply the devices for practical applications. This research will provide a broad base of new knowledge in the THz frequency range with potential impacts in the areas of telecommunication, biological and medical sciences and security. It also brings in excellent training opportunities for HQPs to acquire strong photonic knowledge and highly-demanded hands-on skills.

Terahertz频率范围内的电磁波（1-10 THZ，1THZ = 1E12 Hz）引起了激烈的兴趣，因为它们对许多重要应用的潜力：生物化学物种检测，天文学光谱，Terahertz Imaging and Terahertz Imaging和Optical Wiredlesseless noveralseless comennection spectional spectional overy the。由于缺乏紧凑，低能消耗性，基于固态和易于操作的Terahertz源和检测器，Terahertz技术的应用进展受到了阻碍。这种情况最近开始发生变化，尤其是在2002年报告的Terahertz频率范围内的第一个半导体量子级联激光发明的发明之后。Terahertz量子级联激光器的发展迅速进行，尽管如此，仍然存在许多技术挑战，以进一步提高设备的性能。其中，Terahertz量子级联激光器的室温激光和高功率运行可能是最大的挑战。该提议的项目将通过合并的实验和理论方法来应对技术挑战。该提案的目标包括1）建立关于量子半导体异质结构中sub段过渡和载体动力学基础物理学的综合知识基础； 2）开发一个模拟软件包，该软件包可以从数值上计算量子异质结构的重要参数以及量子级联激光器的整体性能，以与实验结果进行比较； 3）探索新的量子结构（例如基于载体注入和提取的双声子松弛的结构），以胜过现有的量子活动区域设计，以便推动更高的工作温度； 4）用新结构制造和表征量子级联激光器，并将设备应用于实际应用。这项研究将在THZ频率范围内提供广泛的新知识基础，并在电信，生物学和医学科学和安全领域产生潜在的影响。它还为HQP带来了极好的培训机会，以获得强大的光子知识和高度的实践技能。