TL;DR: The results demonstrate the potential of quantum cascade lasers as continuous wave mid-infrared light sources for high-resolution spectroscopy, chemical sensing applications, and free-space optical communication systems.
Abstract: Continuous wave operation of quantum cascade lasers is reported up to a temperature of 312 kelvin. The devices were fabricated as buried heterostructure lasers with high-reflection coatings on both laser facets, resulting in continuous wave operation with optical output power ranging from 17 milliwatts at 292 kelvin to 3 milliwatts at 312 kelvin, at an emission wavelength of 9.1 micrometers. The results demonstrate the potential of quantum cascade lasers as continuous wave mid-infrared light sources for high-resolution spectroscopy, chemical sensing applications, and free-space optical communication systems.
TL;DR: In this paper, a continuous-wave (cw) operation of InGaN multi-quantum-well structure laser diodes (LDs) was demonstrated at room temperature (RT).
Abstract: Continuous‐wave (cw) operation of InGaN multi‐quantum‐well structure laser diodes (LDs) was demonstrated at room temperature (RT). The threshold current and voltage of the LD were 130 mA and 8 V, respectively. The threshold carrier density was 9 kA/cm2. The lifetime of the LDs under RT cw operation was 1 s due to large heat generation. Mode hopping of the emission wavelength of the LDs was observed. The average wavelength drift due to temperature increase was 0.066 nm/K between 20 and 70 °C, because of the temperature dependence of the gain profile due to band‐gap narrowing of the InGaN active layer.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reported stimulated emission depletion (STED) fluorescence microscopy with continuous wave (CW) laser beams, achieving a resolution of 29-60 nm in the focal plane.
Abstract: We report stimulated emission depletion (STED) fluorescence microscopy with continuous wave (CW) laser beams. Lateral fluorescence confinement from the scanning focal spot delivered a resolution of 29-60 nm in the focal plane, corresponding to a 5-8-fold improvement over the diffraction barrier. Axial spot confinement increased the axial resolution by 3.5-fold. We observed three-dimensional (3D) subdiffraction resolution in 3D image stacks. Viable for fluorophores with low triplet yield, the use of CW light sources greatly simplifies the implementation of this concept of far-field fluorescence nanoscopy.
TL;DR: The demonstration of a terahertz quantum-cascade laser that operates up to 164 K in pulsed mode and 117 K in continuous-wave mode at approximately 3.0 THz is reported.
Abstract: We report the demonstration of a terahertz quantum-cascade laser that operates up to 164 K in pulsed mode and 117 K in continuous-wave mode at approximately 3.0 THz. The active region was based on a resonant-phonon depopulation scheme and a metal-metal waveguide was used for modal confinement. Copper to copper thermocompression wafer bonding was used to fabricate the waveguide, which displayed improved thermal properties compared to a previous indium-gold bonding method.
TL;DR: Three distinct techniques exist for distributing an ultrastable frequency reference over optical fibers, and it is expected that the optical transfer to be similar in performance to the cw optical frequency transfer.
Abstract: Three distinct techniques exist for distributing an ultrastable frequency reference over optical fibers. For the distribution of a microwave frequency reference, an amplitude-modulated continuous wave (cw) laser can be used. Over kilometer-scale lengths this approach provides an instability at 1 s of ∼3×10−14 without stabilization of the fiber-induced noise and ∼1×10−14 with active noise cancellation. An optical frequency reference can be transferred by directly transmitting a stabilized cw laser over fiber and then disseminated to other optical and microwave regions using an optical frequency comb. This provides an instability at 1 s of 2×10−14 without active noise cancellation and 3×10−15 with active noise cancellation [Recent results reduce the instability at 1 s to 6×10−18.] Finally, microwave and optical frequency references can be simultaneously transmitted using an optical frequency comb, and we expect the optical transfer to be similar in performance to the cw optical frequency transfer. The insta...