TST, Vol. 17, No. 1, PP. 1-11

(Invited paper) Recent progress in terahertz quantum cascade lasers

Y. J. Han, J. C. Cao ^*
National Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuits, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Chang Ning Road, Shanghai 200050, China
^* Email: jccao@mail.sim.ac.cn

(Received December 2023)

Abstract: Terahertz quantum cascade lasers are semiconductor devices based on electron transitions between subbands. They have the advantages of small size, adjustable frequency, and fast response speed. Their working frequencies are between microwave and infrared light, covering the fingerprint spectrum of many gas molecules, compounds and condensed matters. They have potential applications in astronomical observation, public safety, biomedicine and other fields. In recent years, the performance of terahertz quantum cascade lasers has been significantly improved, and their applications in high-resolution spectroscopy, terahertz imaging, wireless broadband communications and other fields have also attracted attention. This article reviews the development of terahertz quantum cascade lasers, briefly describes their working principles and device structures, introduces the latest progress in device performance, frequency comb, and some new technologies. On this basis, their future development is prospected.

Keywords: Terahertz technology; Quantum cascade lasers

doi:

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