Quantum Cascade Lasers for Mid-Infrared Chemical Sensing

The mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range (2-20 m) is particularly useful for chemical sensing due to the excitation of fundamental rotational and vibrational modes. In the fingerprint region (10-20 m), most organic analytes have unique absorption patterns; absorption measurements in this region provide molecule-specific information with high sensitivity. Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) present an ideal light source for (MIR) chemical sensing due to their narrow linewidth, high spectral density, compact size, and ease of fabrication of nearly any MIR wavelength. As the emission wavelength is dependent on layer size within the heterostructure rather than material composition, various wavelengths in the MIR can be achieved through bandstructure engineering. High sensitivity measurements have been achieved in both gas and liquid phase by developing integrated sensing systems. The laser emission frequency is selected to match a strong absorption feature for the analyte of interest where no other interfering bands are located. A waveguide is then developed to fit the application and wavelength used. Gas sensing applications incorporate silica hollow waveguides (HWG) and an OmniGuide fiber (or photonic bandgap HWG). Analyte gas is injected into the hollow core allowing the HWG or OmniGuide to serve simultaneously as a waveguide and miniaturized gas cell. Sensitivities of parts per billion are achieved with a response time of 8 s and a sample volume of approximately 1 mL. Liquid sensing is achieved via evanescent wave measurements with planar waveguides of silver halide (AgX) and gallium arsenide (GaAs). GaAs waveguides developed in this work have a thickness on the order of the wavelength of light achieving single-mode waveguides, providing a significant improvement in evanescent field strength over conventional multimode fibers. Liquid samples of L volume at the waveguide surfaces are detected. QCLs have begun to be utilized as a light source in the MIR regime over the last decade. The next step in this field is the development of compact and highly integrated device platforms which take full advantage of this technology. The sensing demonstrations in this work advance the field towards finding key applications in medical, biological, environmental, and atmospheric measurements.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Boris Mizaikoff; Committee Member: Jiri Janata; Committee Member: Mohan Srinivasarao; Committee Member: Peter Hesketh; Committee Member: Thomas Orland