GaSb-Based VCSEL With Buried Tunnel Junction for Emission Around 2.3 $\mu$ m

In this paper, we present a device concept and results of an electrically pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser in the (AlGaIn)(AsSb) material system grown on GaSb substrate. The structure consists of an n-doped GaSb/AlAsSb distributed Bragg reflector and a type-I GaInAsSb/AlGaAsSb active region, and incorporates a type-III p⁺-GaSb/n⁺-InAsSb buried tunnel junction for current as well as optical confinement. Continuous-wave operation up to 75degC has been achieved at a wavelength of 2.3 mum. The mid-IR emission, the large tunability over a wavelength range of more than 10 nm combined with its single-mode operation makes this device ideally suited for gas-sensing applications.