Engineered Dielectric Pattern Nanoantenna: A Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) Device Application

The concept and modeling of a dielectric pattern nanoantenna integrated with a quantum cascade laser (QCL) source are presented, where a directive emission performance is achieved. A periodic dielectric configuration with optimized and different periodicities in transverse and propagating directions is created to engineer a band-edge dispersion diagram at a specific k-vector. In addition, QCL source with directive emission of gain and vertical and horizontal narrow beamwidths of 14° and 12°, respectively, is achieved. This indicates about 2.5 and 4.5 times improvement in the vertical and horizontal beamwidths of the original QCL radiation. Highly-efficient power output is determined. A full wave analysis based on finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique is applied to comprehensively characterize the device and determine its physical parameters. The obtained nanoantenna can be integrated in THz, IR, and visible spectrums (scaling the geometry properly), and it has the potential for efficient long-range THz and optical energy communications.