Single-mode interband cascade laser based on V-coupled cavity with 210†nm wavelength tuning range near 3†µm.

Interband cascade lasers (ICLs) are efficient and compact mid-infrared (3-5 µm) light sources with many applications. By enhancing the coupling coefficient and using a type-I ICL wafer, single-mode ICLs were demonstrated based on V-coupled cavity with significantly extended tuning range and with a side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) exceeding 35 dB in continuous wave operation near 3 µm. A V-coupled cavity ICL exhibited a wavelength tuning up to 67 nm at a fixed temperature, and the total tuning range exceeds 210 nm when the heat sink temperature is adjusted from 80 to 180 K. The realization of single-mode in such a wide temperature range with a tuning range exceeding 210 nm verified the advantage of V-coupled cavity ICLs for effective detection of multiple gas species. This is very different from the conventional distributed feedback (DFB) laser where the single-mode operation is restricted to a narrow temperature range, in which the match between the gain peak and the DFB grating period determined wavelength is required. Another V-coupled cavity ICL is tuned over 120 nm from 2997.56 nm to 3117.50 nm with the heat-sink temperature varied from 210 K to 240 K, over 100 K higher than the previously reported maximum operating temperature for V-coupled cavity ICLs.

Mid-infrared widely tunable single-mode interband cascade lasers based on V-coupled cavities.

We demonstrate widely tunable single-mode V-coupled-cavity lasers emitting at wavelengths near 3 µm based on a type-II interband cascade (IC) structure. The mode selection is achieved using a half-wave V-coupler designed for the IC structure in the mid-infrared range. The laser waveguides and cavity structure are deeply etched in a single etching step, without any grating. By changing the injection current at a fixed heat-sink temperature, a tuning range over 35 nm can be achieved with a side-mode suppression-ratio up to 28 dB. The tuning range can be extended to 60 nm when combined with the adjustments of the heat-sink temperature.

Aircraft and balloon in situ measurements of methane and hydrochloric acid using interband cascade lasers.

Aircraft and balloon in situ measurements of CH4 and HCl using cw distributed feedback (DFB) interband cascade (IC) lasers are reported. In the stratosphere and upper troposphere, sensitivity toward CH4 and HCl is better than 10 ppbv (1 s) and 90 pptv (50 s), respectively. These are the first flight measurements of trace gas-phase species using cw DFB IC lasers.

Dual interband cascade laser based trace-gas sensor for environmental monitoring.

The development of an interband cascade laser (ICL) based spectroscopic trace-gas sensor for the simultaneous detection of two atmospheric trace gases is reported. The sensor performance was evaluated using two ICLs capable of targeting formaldehyde (H2CO) and ethane (C2H6). Minimum detection limits of 3.5 ppbV for H2CO and 150 pptV for C2H6 was demonstrated with a 1 s integration time. The sensor was deployed for field measurements of H2CO, and laboratory quantification of both formaldehyde and ethane are reported. A cross comparison of the atmospheric concentration data for H2CO with data collected by a collocated commercial H2CO sensor employing Hantzsch reaction based fluorometric detection was performed. These results show excellent agreement between these two different approaches for trace-gas quantification. In addition, laboratory experiments for dual gas quantification show accurate, fast response with no crosstalk between the two gas channels.

Multiwavelength discrimination and measurements of a two-gas mixture by use of a broadly tunable mid-infrared semiconductor laser.

Spectroscopic detection of gases can be achieved by measuring a few species-specific absorption lines, requiring very accurate wavelength control. Alternatively, it can be achieved by using many wavelengths spread over a wide range; each wavelength need not be optimal spectroscopically, but all collectively form a unique fingerprint for the species of interest. Statistical regression can be used to quantify their concentrations. An experimental evaluation of this concept involved using a 3.1 microm broadly tunable Sb-based mid-IR laser to discriminate and measure mixtures of acetylene and water vapor with absorption spectral overlaps. As many as 30 wavelengths from approximately 3200 to approximately 3280 cm-1 were used to measure 5 x 5 combinations of the two-gas concentration. Statistical analysis of the results validates the concept. Each gas concentration was consistently and reliably measured without any problem of interference from the other. In addition, the method was sufficiently sensitivite to detect unusual discrepancies by use of statistical analysis. Optimization of the system's detection capability and its receiver-operating characteristics is demonstrated. The results suggest that the statistical multiwavelength broadband approach to detection of gas mixture can be a highly effective alternative to species-specific single-line spectroscopy.