Quantum cascade laser with bound-to-quasi-continuum optical transitions at a temperature of up to 371 K

Abstract

Based on a matched Ga0.47In0.53As/Al0.48In0.52As heteropair, we have developed a quantum cascade laser emitting at a wavelength of 7.4 μm. The chosen heterostructure with a relatively large number of quantum wells and barriers represents two mini-bands separated by a mini-gap with a localised doublet level near the upper mini-band, which provides a wide emission band (∼100 cm−1). In a pulse regime, the maximal laser operation temperature is 371 K. Such a high temperature is explained by two factors: a large energy of the transfer from the doublet to the upper mini-band and a large volt defect. The characteristic temperatures T0 are found, which are equal to 170 K for low (less than 300 K) temperatures and 270 K for the range of 300 − 370 K. In addition, optical cavity losses are determined to be 2.5 and 7.7 cm−1 at temperatures of 80 and 254 K, respectively. The pulse power is 0.3 W at 80 K and 0.05 W at 293 K.