Frequency noise and phase-locking of a quantum cascade laser-pumped, 1.073THz molecular laser using a 1560nm frequency comb

S Barbieri (1, 2) , Jean-Francois Lampin (1, 2) , A. Pagies (1, 3) , G. Santarelli (4) , J. Hesler (5) , W. Hansel (6) , R. Holzwarth (6)

1 IEMN - Institut d’Électronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie - UMR 8520
2 PHOTONIQUE THZ - IEMN - Photonique THz - IEMN
3 OPTO - IEMN - Optoélectronique - IEMN
4 CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
5 Virginia Diodes Inc
6 Menlo Systems GmbH

Abstract: We report the measurement of the frequency noise power spectral density (PSD) of a THz molecular laser (ML) pumped by a mid-infrared (MIR) quantum cascade laser (QCL). This is obtained by beating the ML frequency with the harmonic of the repetition rate of a 1560nm frequency comb (FC). We find a frequency noise PSD <; 10Hz 2 /Hz (-95dBc/Hz) at 100kHz from the carrier, limited by the noise of the QCL current driver. We also show that it is possible to actively phase-lock the QCLpumped ML to the FC repetition rate harmonic by controlling the QCL drive current.

Mots clés: Quantum cascade lasers; Frequency measurement; Laser excitation; Laser noise; Pump lasers; Measurement by laser beam; Noise measurement

Domaines: Optique / photonique

S Barbieri, Jean-Francois Lampin, A. Pagies, G. Santarelli, J. Hesler, et al.. Frequency noise and phase-locking of a quantum cascade laser-pumped, 1.073THz molecular laser using a 1560nm frequency comb. 2019 44th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), Sep 2019, Paris, France. pp.1-2, ⟨10.1109/IRMMW-THz.2019.8874581⟩. ⟨hal-03097307⟩