Based on a robust THz gain medium that rapidly depopulates the lower state using resonant LO-phonons and a novel metal-metal waveguide structure for mode confinement, we have developed THz quantumcascade lasers with many performance records. These include but not limited to: pulsed operating temperature of ∼170 K, the highest CW operating temperature of 117 K, long wavelength of ∼207 μm, and the highest output power levels of ∼250 mW. Using these lasers and a 320×240 pixel focal-plane array camera, real-time THz imaging is performed at a video rate of 20 frames/second.
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