Abstract

Optically-pumped terahertz gas lasers (OPTL) are known as a type of practical THz source, due to the characteristics of high-power, excellent beam quality, large frequency range and room temperature operation. However, the output power of OPTLs is difficult to improve further, because of the lack of high power tunable mid-infrared pumping sources and the few studies of the gas THz laser mechanism under high power pumping source. In our research, we introduce the latest high power mid-infrared laser technology into the high power OPTLs creatively. A quantum cascade laser (QCL) is used as a seeding light and a radio-frequency CO₂ laser is used as a master oscillation power amplifier (MOPA) system. Well Monochromatic pump laser with high cw or peak power and controllable pulse waveform and repetition frequency will be obtained by this system. The technical scheme designed in this study will provide solutions of high power cw OPTLs and high energy pulse OPTLs with single line and high repetition frequency.

© 2017 Optical Society of America