21 THz quantum-cascade laser operating up to 144 K based on a scattering-assisted injection design

Khanal, Sudeep; Reno, John L.; Kumar, Sushil

doi:10.1364/OE.23.019689

21 THz quantum-cascade laser operating up to 144 K based on a scattering-assisted injection design

Journal Article · Wed Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Optics Express

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.019689· OSTI ID:1214775

Khanal, Sudeep ^[1]; Reno, John L. ^[2]; Kumar, Sushil ^[1]

Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

A 2.1 THz quantum cascade laser (QCL) based on a scattering-assisted injection and resonant-phonon depopulation design scheme is demonstrated. The QCL is based on a four-well period implemented in the GaAs/Al_0.15Ga_0.85As material system. The QCL operates up to a heat-sink temperature of 144 K in pulsed-mode, which is considerably higher than that achieved for previously reported THz QCLs operating around the frequency of 2 THz. At 46 K, the threshold current-density was measured as ~745 A/cm² with a peak-power output of ~10 mW. Electrically stable operation in a positive differential-resistance regime is achieved by a careful choice of design parameters. The results validate the robustness of scattering-assisted injection schemes for development of low-frequency (ν < 2.5 THz) QCLs.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

OSTI ID:: 1214775

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1512904

Journal Information:: Optics Express, Journal Name: Optics Express Journal Issue: 15 Vol. 23; ISSN 1094-4087; ISSN OPEXFF

Publisher:: Optical Society of America (OSA)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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21 THz quantum-cascade laser operating up to 144 K based on a scattering-assisted injection design

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