Transient Chirp Dynamics in Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

Abstract

Laser frequency chirp is a ubiquitous dynamical process in semiconductor lasers, vital for frequency-modulated photonic systems. In the mid-infrared (MIR) and terahertz (THz) ranges, quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are ideal sources with high power, narrow linewidth and compact size. While chirp dynamics in MIR QCLs have been studied, the transient chirp behavior of THz QCLs--particularly the thermal chirp on microsecond to millisecond timescales--remains largely unexplored. Here, we experimentally investigate transient thermal chirp dynamics in single-mode THz QCLs via an on-chip heterodyne scheme. Twin monolithically integrated single-mode QCLs are used: one pulsed QCL as the device under test, and one continuous-wave (CW) QCL serving as both local oscillator (LO) and ultrafast THz detector. The frequency chirp is mapped to the radio-frequency (RF) domain by heterodyne down-conversion. By varying current and temperature, we observe three distinct chirp features: unidirectional down-chirp, V-shaped chirp, and unidirectional up-chirp. A two-node thermal model reproduces the dynamics with good agreement with experiments. Chirp dynamics in the multi-mode regime are also identified, showing the potential for sensitive dynamic spectral characterization. These findings deepen the understanding of THz QCL thermal chirp mechanisms and support applications in THz frequency combs, frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar, and high-speed coherent communications.