Monolithic frequency comb platform based on interband cascade lasers and detectors

Funding: Austrian Science Fund (FWF) within the projects "NanoPlas" (P28914-N27), "Building Solidsfor Function" (Project W1243), "NextLite" (F4909-N23), as well as by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency through the ERA-Net Photonic Sensing program, project "ATMO-SENSE" (FFG:861581). H.D. was supported by the ESF project CZ.02.2.69/0.00.0/16_027/0008371. A.M.A was supported by the projects COMTERA - FFG 849614 and AFOSR FA9550-17-1-0340.New insights into the laser dynamics of interband cascade lasers reveal the possibility to generatefrequency modulated combs by utilizing their inherent gain nonlinearity. The resultingcomb state is characterized by chirped instantaneous frequency, which appears to be universalto frequency combs based on gain induced four-wave mixing. The fast dynamics in the injectorsfurther allow the realization of exceptionally sensitive and high-speed photodetectors,operating at room-temperature, using the very same epilayer structure. With the capability ofintegrating frequency combs and ultra-fast detectors on a single chip consuming less than awatt of electric power, interband cascade laser technology provides a complete and unmatchedplatform for future monolithic and battery-driven dual-comb spectrometers.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe