Frequency chirped Fourier-Transform spectroscopy.

Fast (sub-second) spectroscopy with high spectral resolution is of vital importance for revealing quantum chemistry kinetics of complex chemical and biological reactions. Fourier transform (FT) spectrometers can achieve high spectral resolution and operate at hundreds of ms time scales in rapid-scan mode. However, the linear translation of a scanning mirror imposes stringent time-resolution limitations to these systems, which makes simultaneous high spectral and temporal resolution very difficult. Here, we demonstrate an FT spectrometer whose operational principle is based on continuous rotational motion of the scanning mirror, effectively decoupling the spectral resolution from the temporal one. Furthermore, we show that such rotational FT spectrometer can perform Mid-IR dual-comb spectroscopy with a single comb source, since the Doppler-shifted version of the comb serves as the second comb. In our realization, we combine the advantages of dual-comb and FT spectroscopy using a single quantum cascade laser frequency comb emitting at 8.2 µm as a light source. Our technique does not require any diffractive or dispersive optical elements and hence preserve the Jacquinot's-, Fellgett's-, and Connes'-advantages of FT spectrometers. By integrating mulitple broadband sources, such system could pave the way for applications where high speed, large optical bandwidth, and high spectral resolution are desired.

An electrically pumped phonon-polariton laser.

We report a device that provides coherent emission of phonon polaritons, a mixed state between photons and optical phonons in an ionic crystal. An electrically pumped GaInAs/AlInAs quantum cascade structure provides intersubband gain into the polariton mode at λ = 26.3 µm, allowing self-oscillations close to the longitudinal optical phonon energy of AlAs. Because of the large computed phonon fraction of the polariton of 65%, the emission appears directly on a Raman spectrum measurement, exhibiting a Stokes and anti-Stokes component with the expected shift of 48 meV.

Terahertz refractive index matching solution.

We report on the fabrication and characterisation of a terahertz (THz) refractive index matching solution (TeraSol) based on barium titanate (BaTiO3) particles and benzocyclobutene (BCB). The high refractive index of BaTiO3 in the THz range makes this material ideal for tuning the effective refractive index of the solution over a wide range. Exploiting the effective medium approximation, we are able to determine the concentration of BaTiO3 particles necessary to obtain target refractive index values between n = 1.8 and n = 5, optimised to match those of substrates widely used in the THz. TeraSol can dramatically reduce the reflections from the substrate during measurements with THz time domain spectroscopy at cryogenic and room temperature. These properties make TeraSol an appealing material for anti-reflective coatings.

Impact of interface roughness distributions on the operation of quantum cascade lasers.

We study the impact of interface roughness on the operation of mid-IR and THz quantum cascade lasers. Particular emphasis is given towards the differences between the Gaussian and exponential roughness distribution functions, for which we present results from simulation packages based on nonequilibrium Green's functions and density matrices. The Gaussian distribution suppresses scattering at high momentum transfer which enhances the lifetime of the upper laser level in mid-IR lasers. For THz lasers, a broader range of scattering transitions is of relevance, which is sensitive to the entire profile of the interface fluctuations. Furthermore we discuss the implementation of interface roughness within a two band model.