Abstract

Lasing characteristics were evaluated for distributed-feedback quantum-cascade (QC) lasers operating in a continuous mode at cryogenic temperatures. These tests were performed to determine the QC lasers’ suitability for use in high-resolution spectroscopic applications, including Doppler-limited molecular absorption and pressure-limited lidar applications. By use of a rapid-scan technique, direct absorbance measurements of nitric oxide (NO) and ammonia $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_3\right)$ were performed with several QC lasers, operating at either 5.2 or $8.5 \mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$. Results include time-averaged linewidths of better than 40 MHz and long-term laser frequency reproducibility, even after numerous temperature cycles, of 80 MHz or better. Tuning rates of $2.5 {\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$ in 0.6 ms can be easily achieved. Noise-equivalent absorbance of $3\times {10}^{-6}$ was also obtained without optimizing the optical arrangement.

© 1998 Optical Society of America

Sensitive absorption spectroscopy with a room-temperature distributed-feedback quantum-cascade laser

K. Namjou, S. Cai, E. A. Whittaker, J. Faist, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D. L. Sivco, and A. Y. Cho
Opt. Lett. 23(3) 219-221 (1998)

Sub-Doppler resolution limited Lamb-dip spectroscopy of NO with a quantum cascade distributed feedback laser

J.T. Remillard, D. Uy, W.H. Weber, F. Capasso, C. Gmachl, A.L. Hutchinson, D.L. Sivco, J.N. Baillargeon, and A.Y. Cho
Opt. Express 7(7) 243-248 (2000)

Photoacoustic spectroscopy with quantum cascade distributed-feedback lasers

Daniel Hofstetter, Mattias Beck, Jérôme Faist, Markus Nägele, and Markus W. Sigrist
Opt. Lett. 26(12) 887-889 (2001)

Free-running frequency stability of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

T. L. Myers, R. M. Williams, M. S. Taubman, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D. L. Sivco, J. N. Baillargeon, and A. Y. Cho
Opt. Lett. 27(3) 170-172 (2002)

Cavity ringdown spectroscopy using mid-infrared quantum-cascade lasers

B. A. Paldus, C. C. Harb, T. G. Spence, R. N. Zare, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D. L. Sivco, J. N. Baillargeon, A. L. Hutchinson, and A. Y. Cho
Opt. Lett. 25(9) 666-668 (2000)