Quantum Cascade Laser Frequency Combs for Broadband Infrared Spectroscopy

Speaker: Jérôme Faist
Affiliation: ETH Zurich

Abstract:

The quantum cascade laser has recently been shown to operate as an optical frequency comb in both the mid-infrared and terahertz frequency range. We recently demonstrated a comb device delivering 1 watt of optical power over a bandwidth of more than 100cm^-1 at 8um wavelength. While the general origin of the comb formation in these devices is relatively well understood, the precise nature of the comb state and especially the relative phases of the modes are still under debate.

After an introduction on these devices and their applications for dual-comb spectroscopy, we report on new experiments pointing to the existence of a very special state of the comb, where the instantaneous frequency chirps linearly time over the length of a cavity round-trip period.

Biography:  

Jérôme Faist was born in Switzerland and obtained his Ph.D. in Physics in 1989 from the Swiss Institute of Technology in Lausanne. He then worked successively at IBM Rueschlikon (89-91) and Bell Laboratories (91-97). He was nominated full professor in the physics institute of the University of Neuchâtel (1997) and then full professor in the ETH Zurich (2007).

His key contribution to the development of the quantum cascade laser was recognized by a number of awards. His present interests include the development of mid-infrared and terahertz quantum cascade lasers and frequency combs and the physics of strong light-matter coupling in metallic resonators.

For more information, contact Prof. Benjamin Williams (bswilliams@ucla.edu)

Date/Time:
Date(s) - Mar 08, 2018
11:00 am - 12:15 pm

Location:
E-IV Maxwell Room #57-124
420 Westwood Plaza - 5th Flr. , Los Angeles CA 90095