Focusing metasurface quantum-cascade laser with a near diffraction-limited beam
- 10 October 2016
- journal article
- Published by Optica Publishing Group in Optics Express
- Vol. 24 (21), 24117-24128
- https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.24.024117
Abstract
A terahertz vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting-laser (VECSEL) is demonstrated using an active focusing reflectarray metasurface based on quantum-cascade gain material. The focusing effect enables a hemispherical cavity with flat optics, which exhibits higher geometric stability than a plano-plano cavity and a directive and circular near-diffraction limited Gaussian beam with M2 beam parameter as low as 1.3 and brightness of 1.86 × 106 Wsr-1m-2. This work initiates the potential of leveraging inhomogeneous metasurface and reflectarray designs to achieve high-power and high-brightness terahertz quantum-cascade VECSELs.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (NNX16AC73G)
- National Science Foundation (NSF) (1150071, 1407711)
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