Theoretical model of passive mode-locking in terahertz quantum cascade lasers with distributed saturable absorbers.

ABSTRACT: In research and engineering, short laser pulses are fundamental for metrology and communication. The generation of pulses by passive mode-locking is especially desirable due to the compact setup dimensions, without the need for active modulation requiring dedicated external circuitry. However, well-established models do not cover regular self-pulsing in gain media that recover faster than the cavity round trip time. For quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), this marked a significant limitation in their operation, as they exhibit picosecond gain dynamics associated with intersubband transitions. We present a model that gives detailed insights into the pulse dynamics of the first passively mode-locked QCL that was recently demonstrated. The presence of an incoherent saturable absorber, exemplarily

SUBMITTER: Seitner L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11501480 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature