Solid state terahertz sources using quantum well intersubband transitions

    P. Harrison, R.W. Kelsall, K. Donovan, and P. Kinsler.

    Institute of Microwaves and Photonics, 
    School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, 
    University of Leeds, 
    Leeds LS2 9JT,
    United Kingdom.

    IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 48, (2000).


It is shown that the confined states within the conduction band
of quantum well systems have potential as sources of terahertz
radiation.  It is demonstrated that it is the dynamical
properties of the electrons within these levels which must be
manipulated in order to favour radiative emission rather than
non-radiative loss.  Designs are advanced for tunable emitters,
optically excited lasers and the active regions of electrically
injected terahertz lasers. In the latter two devices, it is
shown that the electron dynamics can be manipulated to favour
population inversion at root emperature.

Keywords: Terahertz, far-infrared, intersubband, quantum cascade lasers




Email: Dr.Paul.Kinsler@physics.org