Long-term operational testing of quantum cascade lasers

Tanya L. Myers; Bret D. Cannon; Carolyn S. Brauer; Mark C. Phillips; Matthew S. Taubman; Bruce E. Bernacki

doi:10.1117/12.2223129

25 May 2016 Long-term operational testing of quantum cascade lasers

Tanya L. Myers, Bret D. Cannon, Carolyn S. Brauer, Mark C. Phillips, Matthew S. Taubman, Bruce E. Bernacki

Proceedings Volume 9836, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications VIII; 98362J (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2223129
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2016, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of long-term operational testing of several quantum cascade laser (QCL) variants to illustrate their robustness and long lifetimes. Performance factors are investigated including power and spectral stability over different timescales ranging from days to years. The effects of burn-in, packaging, mounting, and facet coatings are considered with respect to their influence on long-term laser performance. In addition, the results from the several years’ operation of a custom external cavity quantum cascade laser-based trace gas sensor are presented to highlight the reliable performance of QCL-based sensor systems. This sensor monitored the laboratory air for multiple chemicals and operated continuously for two years without any evidence of degradation in performance. The data from all of these experiments will be discussed to demonstrate the reliability and robust performance of QCLs.

Citation Download Citation

Tanya L. Myers, Bret D. Cannon, Carolyn S. Brauer, Mark C. Phillips, Matthew S. Taubman, and Bruce E. Bernacki "Long-term operational testing of quantum cascade lasers", Proc. SPIE 9836, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications VIII, 98362J (25 May 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2223129

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