Continuous wave operation of distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers with low threshold voltage and low power consumption

Abstract

We demonstrated the room temperature continuous wave (CW) operation of mid-infrared distributed feedback (DFB) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) made of strain balanced GaInAs/AlInAs material on InP substrates for sensing CO2 isotope and N2O gas for potential applications that need battery powered portable devices in a sensor network. For the former device at 4.35 μm wavelength, we demonstrated a low threshold voltage of less than 8 V for battery operation and a near circular far field pattern with small divergent angles of 33 by 28 degrees full width at half maximum (FWHM) in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, for easy collimation. For the latter device at 4.5 μm wavelength, we demonstrated a low CW threshold power consumption of 0.7 W at 20 °C. A side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of 30 dB was achieved within the whole operating current and temperature ranges for both lasers.