Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, Volume. 62, Issue 19, 1906003(2025)

Research Advances in Beam Combining Techniques for Quantum Cascade Lasers (Invited)

Xuchao Liu1,2, Jianzeng Guo1,2、*, Qing Li1,2、**, Junjie Guo1,2, Hongchun Li1,2, Xiaohong Zhou1,2, Hao Wen1,2, Xiaojun Zhang1,2, Xiongfei Qiu1,2, Xiankui Liu1,2, Xiaoming Ren1,2, and Jie Wang1,2、***
Author Affiliations
  • 1The 718th Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, Handan 050027, Hebei , China
  • 2Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Chemical and Gas Laser, Handan 050027, Hebei , China
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    Quantum cascade laser (QCL) exhibit considerable potential for applications in diverse fields including chemical sensing, free-space optical communications, and infrared countermeasure systems, owing to their distinctive characteristics of broad spectral coverage, compact size, and manufacturability at scale. Nevertheless, the performance of current mid-infrared QCL devices is fundamentally limited by existing material systems and fabrication technologies, resulting in wall-plug efficiencies that remain substantially inferior to those of near-infrared semiconductor lasers. Furthermore, the constrained output power from individual devices presents a significant barrier to their practical implementation in these application areas. Beam combining methodologies have consequently emerged as a promising approach for power scaling of QCL systems. This review comprehensively examines contemporary advancements in beam combining techniques specifically developed for QCLs, providing a systematic evaluation of their respective merits and prevailing technical limitations.

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    Xuchao Liu, Jianzeng Guo, Qing Li, Junjie Guo, Hongchun Li, Xiaohong Zhou, Hao Wen, Xiaojun Zhang, Xiongfei Qiu, Xiankui Liu, Xiaoming Ren, Jie Wang. Research Advances in Beam Combining Techniques for Quantum Cascade Lasers (Invited)[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2025, 62(19): 1906003

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    Paper Information

    Category: Fiber Optics and Optical Communications

    Received: Jun. 3, 2025

    Accepted: Jun. 30, 2025

    Published Online: Sep. 24, 2025

    The Author Email: Jianzeng Guo (guojianzeng718@126.com), Qing Li (moyi6969@163.com), Jie Wang (wangjie_24@163.com)

    DOI:10.3788/LOP251368

    CSTR:32186.14.LOP251368

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