High-speed modulation and free-space optical audio/video transmission using quantum cascade lasers

Martini, Rainer; Gmachl, Claire F.; Falciglia, J.; Curti, F.; Bethea, C. G.; Capasso, Federico; Whittaker, Edward A.; Paiella, Roberto; Tredicucci, Alessandro; Hutchinson, Albert L.; Sivco, Deborah L.; Cho, A. Y.

doi:10.1049/el:20010102

Cited by 72 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…QC lasers are very suitable for such applications because their emission wavelength can be chosen in the so-called atmospheric window regions, i.e., around 5 and 10 m. In addition, the fast internal lifetimes in the device should allow for reasonable modulation frequencies of up to 5-10 GHz [2], [44]. Recently, Martini et al published results of an optical data link using a high-speed modulated, liquid-nitrogen cooled QC laser over a distance of 70 m and under laboratory conditions [45]. They also succeeded in transmitting a video image via a common TV channel frequency.…”

Section: Telecom Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bound-to-continuum and two-phonon resonance, quantum-cascade lasers for high duty cycle, high-temperature operation

Faist

Hofstetter

Beck

et al. 2002

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

221

110

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Section: Telecom Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bound-to-continuum and two-phonon resonance, quantum-cascade lasers for high duty cycle, high-temperature operation

Faist

Hofstetter

Beck

et al. 2002

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

221

110

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“…In addition, the fast internal lifetimes of the devices should allow for reasonable modulation frequencies of up to 5-10 GHz. Recently, Martini et al published results of an optical data link using a high-speed modulated, liquid nitrogen-cooled QC laser over a distance of 70 m and under laboratory conditions [6]. They also succeeded in transmitting a video image via a common TV channel frequency.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Free-space optical data link using Peltier-cooled quantum cascade laser

Blaser

Hofstetter²,

Beck³

et al. 2001

Electron. Lett.

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The authors demonstrate a free-space optical data link over 350 m using a Peltier-cooled 9.3 µm quantum cascade laser operating at a duty cycle of almost 50%. On the emitter side, a Ge lens was used for beam collimation and a flat mirror for beam steering, while on the receiver side, a fast room-temperature HgCdTe detector in combination with a φ = 16 cm mirror telescope detected the incoming signal. Short pulses at a maximum repetition rate of 330 MHz were successfully transmitted. The signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement was limited by the power equivalent noise of the detector.Introduction: Mid-infrared quantum cascade (QC) lasers have undergone a remarkable development in recent years [1,2]. Today's state-ofthe-art devices can be operated at high duty cycles above room temperature [3]. While most potential applications lie in the field of optical spectroscopy [4], other interesting applications exist. These include, for example, free-space optical data transmission [5]. In contrast to fibre optical telecommunications, this technique has the advantage of not requiring additional cables to be buried in the ground. In urban areas where large amounts of fibre optical connections already exist, fast freespace optical data links could be particularly convenient. QC lasers are very suitable for such applications because their emission wavelength can be chosen in the so-called atmospheric window regions, i.e. around 5 and 10 µm. In addition, the fast internal lifetimes of the devices should allow for reasonable modulation frequencies of up to 5-10 GHz. Recently, Martini et al. published results of an optical data link using a high-speed modulated, liquid nitrogen-cooled QC laser over a distance of 70 m and under laboratory conditions [6]. They also succeeded in transmitting a video image via a common TV channel frequency. Since this experiment was carried out within a building, one of the main benefits of using QC lasers, namely having an emission wavelength which is barely affected by atmospheric conditions such as rain or fog, was not demonstrated. In addition, the use of liquid nitrogen-cooled equipment on both sides makes the technique somewhat less attractive for applications in the field. To take full advantage of our existing QC laser technology, we present in this Letter an optical data link between two different buildings separated by ~350 m and using a Peltier-cooled QC laser as well as a room-temperature HgCdTe detector.Experimental setup: On the emitter side, we used a 3 mm long 9.3 µm multimode QC laser mounted in a Peltier-cooled, temperature-stabilised aluminum box (Alpes Lasers SA) and an f/0.8 Ge lens 37.5 mm in diameter to collimate the laser beam. The device was maintained at a temperature of -15°C, operated at a duty cycle of almost 50%, and pulsed at different repetition frequencies. Using a bias-T, the laser was driven simultaneously at a constant current of 2 A (which corresponds to 0.72 × I th ) and a 10 W radio frequency signal of up to 350 MHz. On the receiver side, we employed a mirror...

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“…The device was biased above its cw threshold, and modulated by the output of a synthesized signal generator with frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 10 GHz at a level of 0 dBm. The light output was transmitted over a distance of 1 m and detected with a GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well infrared photodetector (QWIP) [9], packaged for high-speed operation. The resulting photocurrent was amplified and fed into a microwave spectrum analyzer, where the modulation amplitude was measured.…”

Section: High Frequency Analog and Digital Modulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum cascade laser-based free space optical communications

Martini

Whittaker

2005

J Optic Comm Rep

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The advent of the quantum cascade laser (QCL) with emission wavelengths available in the infrared range from 3 μm through more than 100 μm opens up the possibility of exploiting infrared atmospheric transparency windows for free space optical communications. In an effort to establish the efficacy of using directly modulated QCLs for free space communications we have conducted a series of investigations that demonstrate the potential advantages of this technology. In these experiments we first establish that the QCL has very high modulation bandwidth. We then implement a practical free space communications link that under conditions of atmospheric fog, dust and other obscurants offers significant transparency advantage when compared with near infrared wavelength sources presently used in commercial free space optical communications links.

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High-speed modulation and free-space optical audio/video transmission using quantum cascade lasers

Cited by 72 publications

References 5 publications

Bound-to-continuum and two-phonon resonance, quantum-cascade lasers for high duty cycle, high-temperature operation

Bound-to-continuum and two-phonon resonance, quantum-cascade lasers for high duty cycle, high-temperature operation

Free-space optical data link using Peltier-cooled quantum cascade laser

Quantum cascade laser-based free space optical communications

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