Abstract: We have studied the phase locking and spectral linewidth of an ~ 2.7 THz quantum cascade laser by mixing its two lateral lasing modes. The beat signal at about 8 GHz is compared with a microwave eference by applying conventional phase lock loop circuitry with feedback to the laser bias current. Phase locking has been demonstrated, resulting in a narrow beat linewidth of less than 10 Hz. Under requency stabilization we find that the terahertz line profile is essentially Lorentzian with a minimum linewidth of ~ 6.3 kHz. Power dependent measurements suggest that this linewidth does not approach the Schawlow-Townes limit.

Abstract: We present superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) based on NbN thin-film nanostructures and operated at liquid helium temperatures. The SSPDs are made of ultrathin NbN films (2.5-4 nm thick, Tc= 9-11K) as meander-shaped nanowires covering the area of 10× 10 µm2. Our detectors are operated at the temperature well below the critical temperature Tc and are DC biased by a current Ib close to the meander critical current Ic. The operation principle of the detector is based on the use of the resistive region in a narrow ultra-thin superconducting stripe upon the absorption of an incident photon. The developed devices demonstrate high sensitivity and response speed in a broadband range from UV to mid-IR (up to 6 µm), making them very attractive for advanced optical technologies, which require efficient detectors of single quanta and low-density optical radiation.