Active tunable quantum cascade lasers based on structured meta-layers – ATLAS

This project aims to develop frequency tunable quantum cascade lasers (QCL) in the mid-infrared exploiting concepts from meta-material science. The tuning will be achieved by introducing judiciously designed meta-layers, whose effective index is linked to the geometric parameters of the meta-atoms composing the structure, and/or by using dielectric materials exhibiting sharp phase transitions. The optical waveguides will be designed to increase the overlap between the optical laser mode and the artificial meta-surfaces. The effective index of the upper cladding can be controlled through the introduction of tunable dielectric materials. The result brought by this novel approach is the development of QCLs with much larger tunability ranges with respect to standard distributed-feedback QCLs. The proposed approach is also easier to implement than External Cavity QCLs. The last part of the project will target the use of these tunable sources for THz generation via difference frequency.