arXiv subjects

Benedikt Schwarz

Publications and source records attributed to Benedikt Schwarz.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Picosecond pulses from a mid-infrared interband cascade laser

The generation of mid-infrared pulses in monolithic and electrically pumped devices is of great interest for mobile spectroscopic instruments. The gain dynamics of interband cascade lasers (ICL) are promising for mode-locked operation at low threshold currents. Here, we present conclusive evidence for the generation of picosecond pulses in ICLs via active mode-locking. At small modulation power, the ICL operates in a linearly chirped frequency comb regime characterized by strong frequency modulation. Upon increasing the modulation amplitude, the chirp decreases until broad pulses are formed. Careful tuning of the modulation frequency minimizes the remaining chirp and leads to the generation of 3.2 ps pulses.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Theory of frequency modulated combs in lasers with spatial hole burning, dispersion and Kerr

Frequency modulated (FM) frequency combs constitute an exciting alternative to generate equidistant spectra. The full set of Maxwell-Bloch equations is reduced to a single master equation for FM combs with fast dynamics to provide insight into the governing mechanisms behind phase-locking. It reveals that the recently observed linear frequency chirp is caused by the combined effects of spatial hole burning, group velocity dispersion and Kerr due to asymmetric gain. The comparison to observation in various semiconductor lasers suggests that the linear chirp is general to self-starting FM combs.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Graphene photodetector integrated on a photonic crystal defect waveguide

We present a graphene photodetector for telecom applications based on a silicon photonic crystal defect waveguide. The photonic structure is used to confine the propagating light in a narrow region in the graphene layer to enhance light-matter interaction. Additionally, it is utilized as split-gate electrode to create a pn-junction in the vicinity of the optical absorption region. The photonic crystal defect waveguide allows for optimal photo-thermoelectric conversion of the occurring temperature profile in graphene into a photovoltage due to additional silicon slabs on both sides of the waveguide, enhancing the device response as compared to a conventional slot waveguide design. A photoresponsivity of 4.7 V/W and a (setup-limited) electrical bandwidth of 18 GHz are achieved. Under a moderate bias of 0.4 V we obtain a photoconductive responsivity of 0.17 A/W.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Laser radio transmitter

Since the days of Hertz, radio transmitters have evolved from rudimentary circuits emitting around 50 MHz to modern ubiquitous Wi-Fi devices operating at gigahertz radio bands. As wireless data traffic continues to increase there is a need for new communication technologies capable of high-frequency operation for high-speed data transfer. Here we give a proof of concept of a new compact radio frequency transmitter based on a semiconductor laser frequency comb. In this laser, the beating among the coherent modes oscillating inside the cavity generates a radio frequency current, which couples to the electrodes of the device. We show that redesigning the top contact of the laser allows one to exploit the internal oscillatory current to drive an integrated dipole antenna, which radiates into free space. In addition, direct modulation of the laser current permits encoding a signal in the radiated radio frequency carrier. Working in the opposite direction, the antenna can receive an external radio frequency signal, couple it to the active region and injection lock the laser. These results pave the way to new applications and functionality in optical frequency combs, such as wireless radio communication and wireless synchronization to a reference source.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

A monolithic frequency comb platform based on interband cascade lasers and detectors

Optical frequency combs enable all-solid-state spectrometers that will trigger a breakthrough in miniaturization and on-chip integration of mid-infrared sensing technology. Interband cascade lasers (ICLs) are an ideal candidate for practical implementations due to their low power consumption and zero-bias detection functionality. Here, we demonstrate the generation of self-starting ICL frequency combs. We show that the gain is fast enough to respond to beating of the intracavity field, which hinders the formation of short pulses. Instead, the ICL operates in a comb state, where the phases of the fundamental intermode beatings are splayed over a range of $2π$. This state appears to be general to self-starting combs based on the inherent gain nonlinearity and minimizes oscillations of the population inversion. Using the same epi-layer material, we demonstrate efficient detector operation at room temperature up to several GHz bandwidth and thereby provide a complete and unmatched platform for monolithic and battery driven dual-comb spectroscopy.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2018

Coherent injection locking of quantum cascade laser frequency combs

Quantum cascade laser (QCL) frequency combs are a promising candidate for chemical sensing and biomedical diagnostics, requiring only milliseconds of acquisition time to record absorption spectra without any moving parts. They are electrically pumped and have a small footprint, making them an ideal platform for on-chip integration. Until now, optical feedback is fatal for frequency comb generation in QCLs and destroys intermodal coherence. This property imposes strict limits on the possible degree of integration. Here, we demonstrate coherent injection locking of the repetition frequency to a stabilized RF oscillator. For the first time, we prove that the spectrum of the injection locked QCL can be phase-locked, resulting in the generation of a frequency comb. We show that injection locking is not only a versatile tool for all-electrical frequency stabilization, but also mitigates the fatal effect of optical feedback on the frequency comb. A prototype self-detected dual-comb setup consisting only of an injection locked dual-comb chip, a lens and a mirror demonstrates the enormous potential for on-chip dual-comb spectroscopy. These results pave the way to miniaturized and all-solid-state mid-infrared spectrometers.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

Single-mode instability in standing-wave lasers: The quantum cascade laser as a self-pumped parametric oscillator

We report the observation of a clear single-mode instability threshold in continuous-wave Fabry-Perot quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). The instability is characterized by the appearance of sidebands separated by tens of free spectral ranges (FSR) from the first lasing mode, at a pump current not much higher than the lasing threshold. As the current is increased, higher-order sidebands appear that preserve the initial spacing, and the spectra are suggestive of harmonically phase-locked waveforms. We present a theory of the instability that applies to all homogeneously broadened standing-wave lasers. The low instability threshold and the large sideband spacing can be explained by the combination of an unclamped, incoherent Lorentzian gain due to the population grating, and a coherent parametric gain caused by temporal population pulsations that changes the spectral gain line shape. The parametric term suppresses the gain of sidebands whose separation is much smaller than the reciprocal gain recovery time, while enhancing the gain of more distant sidebands. The large gain recovery frequency of the QCL compared to the FSR is essential to observe this parametric effect, which is responsible for the multiple-FSR sideband separation. We predict that by tuning the strength of the incoherent gain contribution, for example by engineering the modal overlap factors and the carrier diffusion, both amplitude-modulated (AM) or frequency-modulated emission can be achieved from QCLs. We provide initial evidence of an AM waveform emitted by a QCL with highly asymmetric facet reflectivities, thereby opening a promising route to ultrashort pulse generation in the mid-infrared. Together, the experiments and theory clarify a deep connection between parametric oscillation in optically pumped microresonators and the single-mode instability of lasers, tying together literature from the last 60 years.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Controlled generation of a pn-junction in a waveguide integrated graphene photodetector

With its electrically tunable light absorption and ultrafast photoresponse, graphene is a promising candidate for high-speed chip-integrated photonics. The generation mechanisms of photosignals in graphene photodetectors have been studied extensively in the past years. However, the knowledge about efficient light conversion at graphene pn-junctions has not yet been translated into high-performance devices. Here, we present a graphene photodetector integrated on a silicon slot-waveguide, acting as a dual-gate to create a pn-junction in the optical absorption region of the device. While at zero bias the photo-thermoelectric effect is the dominant conversion process, an additional photoconductive contribution is identified in a biased configuration. Extrinsic responsivities of 35 mA/W, or 3.5 V/W, at zero bias and 76 mA/W at 300 mV bias voltage are achieved. The device exhibits a 3 dB-bandwidth of 65 GHz, which is the highest value reported for a graphene-based photodetector.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗