Quantum cascade lasers for TDLS
Stéphane Blaser
5th International Conference on Tunable Diode LaserSpectroscopy (TDLS)Industry Session, July 12, 2005, Firenze (It)
1-3 Maximilien-de-MeuronCH-2000 NeuchâtelSwitzerland
The company
• Based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland• Founded in 1998, 100 kCHF initial capital• 13 employees• 30 years of cumulated experience in QCL design and manufacture• Strong Intellectual Property protection
• Independent product (bound-to-continuum)• Holder of a licence from Lucent Technologies
• Standard & built-to-order devices• Turnover 1.6 MCHF (2004)• Growth rate 50-80% per annum since foundation
Dr. Yargo BonettiDr. Stéphane BlaserSophie BrunnerEmmanuel GentilhommeStéphane GoeckelerSandra HofmannSandrine HuinDr. Lubos HvozdaraDr. Antoine MullerLim-Vitou NamAlexandre NetuschillVanessa PiotGuillaume Vandeputte
The team
TDLS Applications
Optical gas measurements• Infrared Spectroscopy• Quality analysis• Trace gas detection• Remote sensing• Environnement control• Security• Drug/explosive detection• Chemical/biological agents detection
Medical diagnostics• Breath analysis• Non-invasive techniques• Glucose monitoring
Other Applications
Energy deposition• Illumination• Countermeasures
Telecommunications• Free-space transmissions
Imaging with teraherz radiation• Imaging through packages• Scanning and sensing
Activities
RT-P-DFB LN2-CW-DFB RT-P-FP Inquire by email
HP-RT-P-DFBNew wavelength RT-P-DFBNew wavelength LN2-CW-DFB
RT-CW-DFBCryogenic-DFB-THzVery special devices
Standard Production
Special Production
Research Activities
} Check www.alpeslasers.ch
Activities: Standard production
RT-P-DFB Standard Production
Characteristics: P > 1 mW (average)Operating current: 1-4 A / Operating voltage: 8 -10 VOperating temperatures: -30°C to 30°CTypical duty cycle: up to 5%Tuning range: 0.4%Spectral linewidth ~ 1 GHz tested (FTIR resolution)
300MHz optimal (*)Lifetime: ageing measurements have shown τ > 5 years
Main applications: Chemical sensing / Medical diagnostics / Remote sensing
Available wavelengths Off-the-shelf: 4.25 to 11.8 µm
www.alpeslasers.ch
* K. Namjou et al., Opt. Lett. 23, p. 219 (1998), D. Nelson et al., Appl. Phys. B 75, p. 343 (2002), E. Normand et al., Opt. Lett. 28, p.16 (2003),T. Beyer et al., J. Appl. Phys. 95, p.4551 (2004)
Room-Temperature Pulsed DFB
Activities: Standard production LN2 continuous-wave DFB
LN2-CW-DFB Standard Production
Characteristics: P typical 2 mW (max up to 100 mW)Operating current: 0.3 - 2 A, typical 0.8 AOperating voltage: 8-10 VOperating temperature: 80K to ~120-160KTuning range: > 0.4%Spectral linewidth ~ 3 MHz / optimal: few Hz (*)Large tuning, but power decreases with increasing temperature
Main applications: Chemical sensing / Medical diagnostics / Remote sensing
Available wavelengths Off-the-shelf: 4.2 to 10.4 µm
www.alpeslasers.ch
* M. Taubman et al., Opt. Lett. 27, p. 2164 (2002)
Activities: Standard production Room-Temperature Pulsed FP
RT-P-FP Standard Production
Characteristics: P up to 100mWOperating current: 0.5 - 4 AOperating voltage: 8 -10VOperating temperatures: -30°C to 30°CMultiline spectraLinewidth 0.5µm @ 10µmMode spacing 1 – 2 cm-1
Main applications: Illumination / Energy deposition / Chemical sensing in liquids
Inquire by email
Activities
HP-RT-P-DFBNew wavelength RT-P-DFBNew wavelength LN2-CW-DFB
RT-CW-DFBCryogenic-DFB-THzVery special devices
Standard Production
Special Production
Research Activities
RT-P-DFB
LN2-CW-DFB
RT-P-FP
On request4.2 to 17µm
Activities: Special production Production line
Activities
RT-P-DFB LN2-CW-DFB RT-P-FP
HP-RT-P-DFBNew wavelength RT-P-DFBNew wavelength LN2-CW-DFB
RT-CW-DFBCryogenic-DFB-THzVery special devices
Production pulsed-DFB
Special pulsed-DFB
Research Activities On request
cw DFB QCL on TE-cooler at 5.46µm
Max. single-mode operating temperature: T = 27°CT0 = 170K
Threshold current density = 1.26 kA/cm2 (-30°C)
• 1.5mm-long, 18µm-wide laser• no coating
RT-CW-DFB-40-1830
• best device: cw up to 30°C
cw DFB QCL on TE-cooler at 5.46µm RT-CW-DFB-40-1830
Single-mode emission between -30 and 25°C
Tuning range Δν = 12 cm-1 at 1830cm-1 (0.65%)
• 1.5mm-long, 18µm-wide laser• no coating
cw DFB QCL on TE-cooler at 5.30µm RT-CW-DFB-5-1885
Max. single-mode operating T = -17°CThreshold current density = 2.0 kA/cm2 (-33°C)
• 1.5mm-long, 16µm-wide lasergoal: cw operation at 1900cm-1
Cryogenic cw THz DFB QCL at 86µm Cryogenic-CW-DFB-1-116
• 1.7mm-long, 200µm-wide laser
cw operation at 116 cm-1
Giacomo Scalari et al.
Conclusions
CW-RT QCL available at ~5.46µm and soon as standard products
Possibility to built devices to order
Please visit www.alpeslasers.ch
Please contact us
Stock of devices designed for TDLS
We have a booth here!Please visit us here in Florence at the exhibition center
References
Pulsed QC laser linewidth:K. Namjou et al., Opt. Lett. 23, p. 219 (1998)D. Nelson et al., Appl. Phys. B 75, p. 343 (2002)E. Normand et al., Opt. Lett. 28, p.16 (2003)T. Beyer et al., J. Appl. Phys. 95, p.4551 (2004)
Continuous-wave QC laser linewidth:S. Sharpe et al., Opt. Lett. 23, p. 1396 (1998)R. Williams et al., Opt. Lett. 24, p. 1844 (1999)T. Myers et al., Opt. Lett. 27, p. 170 (2002)M. Taubman et al., Opt. Lett. 27, p. 2164 (2002)
Chemical sensing:A. Kosterev et al., IEEE J. Quantum Elect. 38, p. 582 (2002)A. Kosterev et al., Appl. Phys. B 74, p. 95 (2002)and many others