Abstract
Based on self-consistent ensemble Monte Carlo simulations coupled to the optical field dynamics, we investigate the giant nonlinear susceptibility giving rise to terahertz difference frequency generation in quantum cascade laser structures. Specifically, the dependence on temperature, bias voltage and frequency is considered. It is shown that the optical nonlinearity is temperature insensitive and covers a broad spectral range, as required for widely tunable room temperature terahertz sources. The obtained results are consistent with available experimental data.