Development of a low noise heterodyne receiver using two phase-locked THz-QCLs as local oscillators

We have developed a phase-locking system of a terahertz quantum cascade laser (THz-QCL) using a hot electron bolometer mixer (HEBM) and a terahertz reference such as an amplifier/multiplier chain (AMC) or an optical-comb generator followed by a UTC-PD. We have demonstrated simultaneous phase-locking of two THz-QCLs. The phase-locked THz-QCLs can be used as local oscillators (LOs) of an HEBM. This technique is useful for atmospheric and astronomical observations.