Abstract

The study of quantum cascade lasers (QCL) in the terahertz frequency region by the use of THz time-domain spectroscopy has gained a lot of interest within the last few years [1]. Good physical insight was obtained for THz QCLs employing a single plasmon waveguide (surface plasmon waveguide) [2,3]. In comparison to that the double plasmon or metal-metal waveguide QCL uses a metal/semiconductor/metal structure as a waveguide. THz QCLs with this type of waveguide are showing the highest operating temperatures so far [4]. The metal-metal THz QCLs confine the whole mode in the active region of subwavelength size. In order to investigate metal-metal THz QCLs by THz pulses an efficient method of THz pulse launching needs to be employed. Several methods for coupling of free space THz pulses into the subwavelength waveguide, such as horn antenna, gratings or lenses can be used. A further method is a waveguide emitter [5,6] which benefits from the near infrared excitation beam focus which is much smaller than the corresponding THz focus.

© 2011 Optical Society of America