Surface-emitting terahertz quantum cascade laser source based on intracavity difference-frequency generation

We report a surface-emitting terahertz source based on intracavity difference-frequency generation in dual-wavelength midinfrared quantum cascade lasers with integrated giant second-order nonlinear susceptibility. The terahertz light is coupled out of the waveguide by a second-order grating etched into the laser ridges. In contrast to sources where the difference-frequency radiation is extracted from the facet, this approach enables extraction of the terahertz emission from the whole length of the device even when the coherence length is small. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3009198]