Mid-infrared type-II interband cascade lasers

Author

Yang, Rui Q. ; Bradshaw, J.L. ; Bruno, J.D. ; Pham, J.T. ; Wortman, D.E.

Author_Institution

Maxion Technol. Inc, Hyattsville, MD, USA

Volume

38

Issue

6

fYear

2002

fDate

6/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

559

Lastpage

568

Abstract

Interband cascade (IC) lasers that utilize optical transitions between the conduction and valence bands in a staircase of Sb-based type-II quantum wells (QWs) represent a new class of mid-IR diode lasers. By combining the advantages of quantum cascade lasers and type-II QW interband lasers, type-II IC lasers show promise of operating in continuous-wave (CW) mode up to room temperature with high output powers. Significant advances toward such high performance have been reported in terms of record-high differential external quantum efficiency (DEQE>600%), peak output power (~6 W/facet at 80 K), CW power conversion efficiency (>16% at 80 K), and room-temperature operation under pulsed conditions. Here, we will review the progress made in the past few years and discuss the issues encountered during the development. Also, the current status of type-II IC lasers and the remaining challenges will be discussed

Keywords

laser modes; laser transitions; quantum well lasers; semiconductor quantum wells; semiconductor superlattices; 150 K; 6 W; 80 K; AlSb-InAs-GaInSb-InAs-AlSb; CW power conversion efficiency; GaSb-AlAsSb; InAs-GaInSb; Sb-based type-II quantum well staircase; conduction bands; continuous-wave mode operation; differential external quantum efficiency; high output power; mid-IR diode lasers; mid-infrared type-II interband cascade lasers; optical transitions; peak output power; pulsed conditions; quantum cascade lasers; room-temperature operation; semiconductor superlattices; type-II QW interband lasers; valence bands; Diode lasers; Laser modes; Laser transitions; Photonic integrated circuits; Power conversion; Power generation; Power lasers; Quantum cascade lasers; Quantum well lasers; Temperature;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JQE.2002.1005406

Filename

1005406