Temperature control circuit based on thermoelectric cooler and quantum cascade laser employing temperature control circuit

Abstract

A temperature control circuit based on a thermoelectric cooler comprises a temperature acquisition module for detecting the temperature of an area to be detected and outputting temperature signals, a controller for controlling the thermoelectric cooler according to the temperature signals inputting by the temperature acquisition module, and the thermoelectric cooler for cooling. The invention also discloses a quantum cascade laser employing the temperature control circuit. The temperature control precision of the temperature control circuit is less than or equal to 0.1 DEG C. The temperature control circuit when used in combination with a small air-cooling device can replace a conventional water cooling system, and realizes temperature control of the quantum cascade laser under a room temperature working state, thereby substantially reducing the size of the cooling system. No mechanical oscillation is needed, which facilitates stable work of the system. The temperature control circuit is small in size, convenient for installation, ling in service lifetime, simple for operation and free of noises, and is especially applicable to temperature control of a portable laser system.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention belongs to the field of semiconductor devices and electronic circuits, and more specifically relates to a temperature control circuit of a quantum cascade laser (QCL), especially a temperature control circuit based on a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) and a quantum level control circuit using it. connected lasers. Background technique [0002] Quantum cascade lasers have a wide range of applications in gas detection, drug and explosive detection, air pollution monitoring, infrared countermeasures, and terahertz imaging. Because the quantum cascade laser is different from the general semiconductor laser, its driving voltage is higher (generally above 10V), the threshold current is larger (hundreds of mA to above 1A), and because of its low conversion efficiency (about 10%), Therefore, the heat generation is large, and the stability of temperature control is required to be high. Generally, quantum cascade lasers use a water-cooled system, but...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Because the quantum cascade laser is different from the general semiconductor laser, its driving voltage is higher (generally above 10V), the threshold current is larger (hundreds of mA to above 1A), and because of its low conversion efficiency (about 10%), Therefore, the heat generation is large, and the stability of temperature control is required to be high.

Usually quantum cascade lasers use a water-cooled system, but due to its large size, complex structure, and accompanying mechanical vibration and noise, it is difficult to realize the portable application of quantum cascade lasers

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