Tunable terahertz emission from difference-frequency in biased superlattices

The terahertz emission from difference-frequency in biased superlattices is calculated with the excitonic effect included. Owing to the doubly resonant condition and the excitonic enhancement, the typical susceptibility can be as large as $10^{-5}$ m/V. The doubly resonant condition can always be realized by adjusting the bias voltage and the laser frequencies, thus the in-situ tunable emission is efficient in a range of several terahertz. Continuous wave operation with 1% quantum efficiency and $\mu$W output power is feasible as the signal absorption in undoped superlattices is negligible.