A Study of the Spatial-Emission Characteristics of Quantum-Cascade Lasers for the 8-μm Spectral Range

Abstract

Near- and far-fields of quantum-cascade lasers emitting in the spectral range near 8 μm have been studied. For all laser samples with a ridge width of 20 and 50 μm, lasing on the fundamental waveguide mode with a divergence of ~50° was observed for all laser samples with a ridge width of 20 and 50 μm along the “fast” axis. Along the “slow” axis, a multimode lasing and a competition between the fundamental and higher waveguide modes, which is manifested for lasers with a ridge width of 50 μm in an increase in the emission divergence from ~10° near the threshold to >50° when the lasing threshold is exceeded by a factor of 2–3. The divergence along the “slow” axis for lasers with ridge width of 22 μm remained invariable in the whole range of pumping currents and equaled ~50°. That there is a substantial contribution from the fundamental mode to the total emission intensity of quantum-cascade lasers, which is apparent from the far-field intensity distribution pattern, cannot be established exclusively on the basis of results obtained in near-field measurements.