Low voltage-defect quantum cascade laser with heterogeneous injector regions
Optics Express, Vol. 15, Issue 24, pp. 15818-15823 (2007)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.015818
Acrobat PDF (1246 KB)
Abstract
We demonstrate an In0.635Al0.356As/In0.678Ga0.322As strain compensated quantum cascade laser that employs heterogeneous injector regions for low voltage defect operation. The active core consists of interdigitated undoped and doped injectors followed by nominally identical wavelength optical transitions. The undoped injector regions are designed with reduced voltage defect while the doped injectors are of a more conventional design. The measured average voltage defect is less than 79 meV. At 80 K, a 2.3 mm long, back facet high reflectance coated laser has an emission wavelength of 4.7 µm and outputs 2.3 W pulsed power with a peak wall-plug efficiency of 19%.
© 2007 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
J. Faist, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, C. Sirtori, A.L. Hutchinson, and A.Y. Cho, “Quantum cascade laser,” Science 264, 553–556 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
M. Beck, D. Hofstetter, T. Aellen, J. Faist, U. Oesterle, M. Ilegems, E. Gini, and H. Melchior, “Continuous wave operation of a midinfrared semiconductor laser at room temperature,” Science 295, 301–305 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Tredicucci, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, A.L. Hutchinson, and A.Y. Cho, “A multiwavelength semiconductor laser,” Nature 396, 350–353 (1998). [CrossRef]
C. Gmachl, D.L. Sivco, J.N. Baillargeon, A.L. Hutchinson, F. Capasso, and A.Y. Cho, “Quantum cascade lasers with a heterogeneous cascade: Two-wavelength operation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 572–574 (2001). [CrossRef]
A. Straub, T.S. Mosely, C. Gmachl, R. Colombelli, M. Troccoli, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, and A.Y. Cho, “Threshold reduction in quantum cascade lasers with partially undoped, dual-wavelength interdigitated cascades,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 2845–2847 (2002). [CrossRef]
I. Vurgaftman and J.R. Meyer, “Analysis of limitations to wallplug efficiency and output power from quantum cascade lasers,” J. Appl. Phys. 99, 123108 (2006). [CrossRef]
J. Faist, “Wallplug efficiency of quantum cascade lasers: Critical parameters and fundamental limits,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 253512 (2007). [CrossRef]
Z. Liu, Princeton University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton, NJ 08544, and C. Gmachl, L. Cheng, F. Choa, F.J. Towner, X. Wang, and J. Fan have submitted a manuscript called “Temperature dependence of optical gain and loss in λ≈8.2–10.2 µm quantum cascade lasers,” to IEEE J. Quantum Elect.
J. Nguyen, J.S. Yu, A. Evans, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, “Optical coatings by ion-beam sputtering deposition for long-wave infrared quantum cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 111113 (2006). [CrossRef]
A. Tsekoun, R. Go, M. Pushkarsky, M. Razeghi, and C.K.N. Patel, “Improved performance of quantum cascade lasers through a scalable, manufacturable epitaxial-side-down mountin process,” PNAS 103, 4831–4835 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A. Evans, J.S. Yu, J. David, L. Doris, K. Mi, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, “High-temperature, high-power, continuous-wave operation of buried heterostructure quantum-cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 314–316 (2004). [CrossRef]
A. Evans, S.R. Darvish, S. Slivken, J. Nguyen, Y. Bai, and M. Razeghi, “Buried heterostructure quantum cascade lasers with high continuous-wave wall plug efficiency,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 071101 (2007). [CrossRef]
A. Evans, J.S. Yu, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, “Continuous-wave operation of λ~4.8 µm quantum-cascade lasers at room temperature,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 2166–2168 (2004). [CrossRef]
2. Laser design and fabrication
3. Experimental results and discussion
I. Vurgaftman and J.R. Meyer, “Analysis of limitations to wallplug efficiency and output power from quantum cascade lasers,” J. Appl. Phys. 99, 123108 (2006). [CrossRef]
4. Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References and links
J. Faist, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, C. Sirtori, A.L. Hutchinson, and A.Y. Cho, “Quantum cascade laser,” Science 264, 553–556 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
M. Beck, D. Hofstetter, T. Aellen, J. Faist, U. Oesterle, M. Ilegems, E. Gini, and H. Melchior, “Continuous wave operation of a midinfrared semiconductor laser at room temperature,” Science 295, 301–305 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
C. Gmachl, D.L. Sivco, R. Colombelli, F. Capasso, and A.Y. Cho, “Ultra-broadband semiconductor laser,” Nature 415, 883–887 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
A. Tredicucci, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, A.L. Hutchinson, and A.Y. Cho, “A multiwavelength semiconductor laser,” Nature 396, 350–353 (1998). [CrossRef] | |
C. Gmachl, D.L. Sivco, J.N. Baillargeon, A.L. Hutchinson, F. Capasso, and A.Y. Cho, “Quantum cascade lasers with a heterogeneous cascade: Two-wavelength operation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 572–574 (2001). [CrossRef] | |
A. Straub, T.S. Mosely, C. Gmachl, R. Colombelli, M. Troccoli, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, and A.Y. Cho, “Threshold reduction in quantum cascade lasers with partially undoped, dual-wavelength interdigitated cascades,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 2845–2847 (2002). [CrossRef] | |
I. Vurgaftman and J.R. Meyer, “Analysis of limitations to wallplug efficiency and output power from quantum cascade lasers,” J. Appl. Phys. 99, 123108 (2006). [CrossRef] | |
J. Faist, “Wallplug efficiency of quantum cascade lasers: Critical parameters and fundamental limits,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 253512 (2007). [CrossRef] | |
Z. Liu, Princeton University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton, NJ 08544, and C. Gmachl, L. Cheng, F. Choa, F.J. Towner, X. Wang, and J. Fan have submitted a manuscript called “Temperature dependence of optical gain and loss in λ≈8.2–10.2 µm quantum cascade lasers,” to IEEE J. Quantum Elect. | |
J. Nguyen, J.S. Yu, A. Evans, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, “Optical coatings by ion-beam sputtering deposition for long-wave infrared quantum cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 111113 (2006). [CrossRef] | |
A. Tsekoun, R. Go, M. Pushkarsky, M. Razeghi, and C.K.N. Patel, “Improved performance of quantum cascade lasers through a scalable, manufacturable epitaxial-side-down mountin process,” PNAS 103, 4831–4835 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
A. Evans, S.R. Darvish, S. Slivken, J. Nguyen, Y. Bai, and M. Razeghi, “Buried heterostructure quantum cascade lasers with high continuous-wave wall plug efficiency,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 071101 (2007). [CrossRef] | |
J.S. Yu, S.R. Darvish, A. Evans, J. Nguyen, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, “Room-temperature continuous-wave operation of quantum-cascade lasers at λ~4 µm” Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 041111 (2006). [CrossRef] | |
A. Evans, J.S. Yu, J. David, L. Doris, K. Mi, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, “High-temperature, high-power, continuous-wave operation of buried heterostructure quantum-cascade lasers,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 314–316 (2004). [CrossRef] | |
A. Evans, J.S. Yu, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, “Continuous-wave operation of λ~4.8 µm quantum-cascade lasers at room temperature,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 2166–2168 (2004). [CrossRef] |
OCIS Codes
(140.3070) Lasers and laser optics : Infrared and far-infrared lasers
(140.5965) Lasers and laser optics : Semiconductor lasers, quantum cascade
ToC Category:
Lasers and Laser Optics
History
Original Manuscript: September 28, 2007
Revised Manuscript: November 5, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: November 7, 2007
Published: November 14, 2007
Citation
Anthony J. Hoffman, Stephan Schartner, Scott S. Howard, Kale J. Franz, Fred Towner, and Claire Gmachl, "Low voltage-defect quantum cascade laser with heterogeneous injector regions," Opt. Express 15, 15818-15823 (2007)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-24-15818
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References
- J. Faist, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, C. Sirtori, A.L. Hutchinson, and A.Y. Cho, "Quantum cascade laser," Science 264, 553 - 556 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- M. Beck, D. Hofstetter, T. Aellen, J. Faist, U. Oesterle, M. Ilegems, E. Gini, and H. Melchior, "Continuous wave operation of a midinfrared semiconductor laser at room temperature," Science 295, 301 - 305 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- C. Gmachl, D.L. Sivco, R. Colombelli, F. Capasso, and A.Y. Cho, "Ultra-broadband semiconductor laser," Nature 415, 883 - 887 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- A. Tredicucci, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, A.L. Hutchinson, and A.Y. Cho, "A multiwavelength semiconductor laser," Nature 396, 350-353 (1998). [CrossRef]
- C. Gmachl, D.L. Sivco, J.N. Baillargeon, A.L. Hutchinson, F. Capasso, and A.Y. Cho, "Quantum cascade lasers with a heterogeneous cascade: Two-wavelength operation," Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 572 - 574 (2001). [CrossRef]
- A. Straub, T.S. Mosely, C. Gmachl, R. Colombelli, M. Troccoli, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, and A.Y. Cho, "Threshold reduction in quantum cascade lasers with partially undoped, dual-wavelength interdigitated cascades," Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 2845 -2847 (2002). [CrossRef]
- I. Vurgaftman and J.R. Meyer, "Analysis of limitations to wallplug efficiency and output power from quantum cascade lasers," J. Appl. Phys. 99, 123108 (2006). [CrossRef]
- J. Faist, "Wallplug efficiency of quantum cascade lasers: Critical parameters and fundamental limits," Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 253512 (2007). [CrossRef]
- Z. Liu, Princeton University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton, NJ 08544, and C. Gmachl, L. Cheng, F. Choa, F.J. Towner, X. Wang, and J. Fan have submitted a manuscript called "Temperature dependence of optical gain and loss in λ ≈ 8.2 - 10.2 μm quantum cascade lasers," to IEEE J. Quantum Elect.
- J. Nguyen, J.S. Yu, A. Evans, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, "Optical coatings by ion-beam sputtering deposition for long-wave infrared quantum cascade lasers," Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 111113 (2006). [CrossRef]
- A. Tsekoun, R. Go, M. Pushkarsky, M. Razeghi, and C.K.N. Patel, "Improved performance of quantum cascade lasers through a scalable, manufacturable epitaxial-side-down mountin process," PNAS 103, 4831 - 4835 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- A. Evans, S.R. Darvish, S. Slivken, J. Nguyen, Y. Bai, and M. Razeghi, "Buried heterostructure quantum cascade lasers with high continuous-wave wall plug efficiency," Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 071101 (2007). [CrossRef]
- J.S. Yu, S.R. Darvish, A. Evans, J. Nguyen, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, "Room-temperature continuous-wave operation of quantum-cascade lasers at λ ~ 4 μm " Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 041111 (2006). [CrossRef]
- A. Evans, J.S. Yu, J. David, L. Doris, K. Mi, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, "High-temperature, high-power, continuous-wave operation of buried heterostructure quantum-cascade lasers," Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 314 - 316 (2004). [CrossRef]
- A. Evans, J.S. Yu, S. Slivken, and M. Razeghi, "Continuous-wave operation of λ ~ 4.8 μm quantum-cascade lasers at room temperature," Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 2166 -2168 (2004). [CrossRef]
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