Abstract

We demonstrate terahertz (THz) frequency imaging using a single quantum cascade laser (QCL) device for both generation and sensing of THz radiation. Detection is achieved by utilizing the effect of self-mixing in the THz QCL, and, specifically, by monitoring perturbations to the voltage across the QCL, induced by light reflected from an external object back into the laser cavity. Self-mixing imaging offers high sensitivity, a potentially fast response, and a simple, compact optical design, and we show that it can be used to obtain high-resolution reflection images of exemplar structures.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

Gas spectroscopy with integrated frequency monitoring through self-mixing in a terahertz quantum-cascade laser

Rabi Chhantyal-Pun, Alexander Valavanis, James T. Keeley, Pierluigi Rubino, Iman Kundu, Yingjun Han, Paul Dean, Lianhe Li, A. Giles Davies, and Edmund H. Linfield
Opt. Lett. 43(10) 2225-2228 (2018)

Terahertz inverse synthetic aperture radar imaging using self-mixing interferometry with a quantum cascade laser

H. S. Lui, T. Taimre, K. Bertling, Y. L. Lim, P. Dean, S. P. Khanna, M. Lachab, A. Valavanis, D. Indjin, E. H. Linfield, A. G. Davies, and A. D. Rakić
Opt. Lett. 39(9) 2629-2632 (2014)

Active phase-nulling of the self-mixing phase in a terahertz frequency quantum cascade laser

P. Dean, J. Keeley, A. Valavanis, K. Bertling, Y. L. Lim, T. Taimre, R. Alhathlool, L. H. Li, D. Indjin, A. D. Rakić, E. H. Linfield, and A. G. Davies
Opt. Lett. 40(6) 950-953 (2015)

Gas spectroscopy through multimode self-mixing in a double-metal terahertz quantum cascade laser

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Opt. Lett. 43(24) 5933-5936 (2018)

Origin of terminal voltage variations due to self-mixing in terahertz frequency quantum cascade lasers

Andrew Grier, Paul Dean, Alexander Valavanis, James Keeley, Iman Kundu, Jonathan D. Cooper, Gary Agnew, Thomas Taimre, Yah Leng Lim, Karl Bertling, Aleksandar D. Rakić, Lianhe H. Li, Paul Harrison, Edmund H. Linfield, Zoran Ikonić, A. Giles Davies, and Dragan Indjin
Opt. Express 24(19) 21948-21956 (2016)