MOEMS-based EC-QCLs: Automated module assembly and multicore modules

The mid-infrared spectral region hosts fundamental molecular vibrations, enabling label-free chemical detection. Wavelength-tunable quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) suit mid-IR spectroscopy with high power, high spectral resolution, small footprints, and excellent beam quality. Integrating QCLs with MOEMS grating scanners in external cavities yields compact, rugged modules with exceptional tuning speed and broad spectral coverage. Merging QCLs with MOEMS grating scanners in an external cavity provides very compact, rugged modules. In this contribution, we will give an overview of our current efforts towards automated assembly of our resonant MOEMS-EC QCL modules, simplifying the assembly process and making it more suitable for volume production at reduced costs. Furthermore, we showcase a four-core module, in which we combine four broadband resonant MOEMS-EC-QCLs into a single output beam and are able to measure the combined IR spectrum of all lasers in only 0.5ms.