Abstract
We coupled linearly polarized and azimuthally polarized Terahertz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) to the low-loss optical modes of hollow core waveguides having a sequence of different metallic or dielectric inner coatings. The latter waveguides have been specifically designed to force the propagation of a dominant optical mode once the thickness (d) of the inner dielectric coating is properly chosen. Our results demonstrate that both the TE01 and the TE11 modes can be easily converted to a hybrid one when d > 6 μm allowing the propagation of THz QCL beams with transmission losses as low as 1.5 dB/m, bending losses < 1.1 dB and reasonably high coupling efficiencies (87%).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
R. Köhler, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram, H. E. Beere, E. H. Linfield, A. G. Davies, D. A. Ritchie, R. C. Iotti, and F. Rossi, Nature 417(6885), 156–159 (2002).
B.S. Williams, S. Kumar, Q. Hu and J.L. Reno, Electronics Letters 42 (2), 89-91 (2006)
Q. Qin, J. L. Reno, and Q. Hu, Opt. Lett. 36, 692 (2011).
M. S. Vitiello and A. Tredicucci, IEEE transaction on THz Science andTechnology, 1 (1), 76 (2011).
L. Mahler, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram , C. Walther, J. Faist, B. Witzigmann, H. E. Beere and D. A. Ritchie, Nature Photonics 3, 46 – 49 (2009).
L. J. Chen, H. W. Chen, T. F. Kao, H. Y. Lu, and C. K. Sun, Opt. Lett. 31, 300308 (2006).
S. Atakaramians, S. Afshar, B. M. Fischer, D. Abbott, and T. M. Monro, Opt. Express 16, 8845 (2008)
J.-K. Lu, C.-P. Yu, H.-C. Chang, H.-W. Chen, and Y.-T. Li, Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 064105 (2008).
R. W. McGowan, G. Gallot, and D. Grischkowsky, Opt. Lett. 24, 1431–1433 (1999)
K. Wang and D. M. Mittleman, Nature 432, 376–379 (2004).
M. Mbonye, R. Mendis, and D. M. Mittleman, Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 233506 (2009).
J. A. Harrington, Infrared Fiber Optics and Their Applications , (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 2004).
B. Bowden, J. A. Harrington, and O. Mitrofanov, Appl. Phys. Lett. 93(18), 181104 (2008).
J.-T. Lu, Y.-C. Hsueh, Y.-R. Huang, Y.-J. Hwang, and C.-K. Sun, Opt.Express 18, 26332 (2010)
M.S. Vitiello, J.-H. Xu, M. Kumar, F. Beltram, A. Tredicucci, O. Mitrofanov, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, , Opt.Express 19, 1122-1130 (2011)
M.S. Vitiello, J.-H. Xu, F. Beltram, A. Tredicucci, O. Mitrofanov, J. A. Harrington, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, J. Appl. Phys. 110, 063112 (2011)
J. A. Harrington, R. George, P. Pedersen, and E. Mueller, Opt. Express 12,5263–5268 (2004).
L. Mahler, M. I. Amanti, C. Walther, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram, J. Faist, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, Opt. Express 17, 13031 (2009).
S. Kumar, B. S. Williams, S. Kohen, and Q. Hu, Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 2494 (2004).
C. Themistos, B. M. A. Rahman, K. T. V. Grattan, B. Bowden, and J. A.Harrington, J. Lightwave Technol. 25, 2456 (2007).
O. Mitrofanov, R. James, F. A. Fernandez, T. K. Mavrogordatos, and J. A. Harrington, IEEE Trans. on Terahertz Science and Technology, 1, 124 - 132 (2011).
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to greatly acknowledge Oleg Mitrofanov for useful discussions
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Siciliani de Cumis, U., Xu, JH., Bledt, C.M. et al. Flexible, Low-loss Waveguide Designs for Efficient Coupling to Quantum Cascade Lasers in the Far-infrared. J Infrared Milli Terahz Waves 33, 319–326 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-012-9875-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-012-9875-0