Speaker
Description
Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) have matured as key-enabling devices for various applications in the mid-IR spectral region between 3-12 µm. They range from food-safety and medical diagnosis to spectroscopy of trace-gas molecules. We will review our recent work on developing highly-integrated and miniaturized laser-detector systems for spectroscopy including bi-functional active region designs (i.e. identical-wavelength emission and detection). Special emphasis is put on surface-emitting ring-cavity waveguides based on 2nd-order DFB-gratings including features like farfield-manipulation, polarization-control and multi-ring designs as well as the implementation of plasmonic waveguides for ridge-emitters to realize lab-on-a-chip configurations. The ring-QCLS are used in gas-sensing and the ridge-emitters in liquid-spectroscopy experiments, respectively.
