Abstract

Wavelength beam-combining of four terahertz (THz) distributed-feedback quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) is demonstrated using low-cost THz components that include a lens carved out of a plastic ball and a mechanically fabricated blazed grating. Single-lobed beams from predominantly single-mode QCLs radiating peak power in the range of $50 {-} 170\;{\rm mW}$ are overlapped in the far field at frequencies ranging from $3.31 {-} 3.54\;{\rm THz} $. Collinear propagation with a maximum angular deviation of ${0.3^ \circ}$ is realized for the four beams. The total power efficiency for the focused and beam-combined radiation is as high as $25\%$. This result could pave the way for future commercialization of beam-combined monolithic THz QCL arrays for multi-spectral THz sensing and spectroscopy at standoff distances.

© 2021 Optical Society of America

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