Methods and apparatus for generating terahertz radiation
AssigneesPresident and Fellows of Harvard College, The Texas A&M University System
InventorsMikhail A. Belkin, Federico Capasso, Alexey Belyanin
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for generating radiation via difference frequency generation (DFG). In one exemplary implementation, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) has a significant second-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ(2)) integrated in an active region of the QCL. The QCL is configured to generate first radiation at a first frequency ω1, second radiation at a second frequency ω2, and third radiation at a third frequency ω3=ω1−ω2 based on difference frequency generation (DFG) arising from the non-linear susceptibility. In one aspect, the QCL may be configured to generate appreciable THz radiation at room temperature.
Claims34
An apparatus, comprising:
- a quantum cascade laser (QCL) having a significant second-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ(2)) integrated in an active region of the QCL, the QCL configured to generate first radiation at a first frequency ω1, second radiation at a second frequency ω2, and third radiation at a third frequency ω3=ω1−ω2 based on difference frequency generation (DFG) arising from the nonlinear susceptibility.
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A method, comprising:
- A) integrating a significant second-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ(2)) in an active region of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) so as to facilitate generation of first radiation at a first frequency ω1, second radiation at a second frequency ω2, and third radiation at a third frequency ω3=ω1−ω2 based on difference frequency generation (DFG) arising from the nonlinear susceptibility.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.