Pulse shaping by incoherent beam combining of several Watt-level QCL modules at 4.0 μm

摘要

We report on the temporally controlled combination of the emission of multiple quantum cascade laser modules. The combination is demonstrated and allows for temporal pulse shaping at a target position. The laser chips are packaged individually in stand-alone modules that can provide an average optical output power on Watt-level. Timing is provided by integrated microcontrollers which allow for comfortable output synchronization of several modules. Thus we have reached a timing accuracy in the order of better than 10 ns. The operation is demonstrated for a wavelength of λ = 4μm, but can be easily adapted to other wavelengths that are relevant for sensing, free space communication or directional infrared counter measure applications.