Longitudinal spatial hole burning in terahertz quantum cascade lasers
15 October 2007
The propagation of a quasi-single-cycle terahertz pulse through an active terahertz quantum cascade laser is studied. The terahertz pulse is found to be diffracted on the optically induced longitudinal modulation of the refractive index of the laser active region. This modulation is a result of longitudinal spatial hole burning due to the formation of a standing wave in the laser cavity. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.