Density-Matrix Model for Photon-Driven Transport in Quantum Cascade Lasers

Soleimanikahnoj, S.; King, Michelle L.; Knezevic, I.

doi:10.1103/physrevapplied.15.034045

Density-Matrix Model for Photon-Driven Transport in Quantum Cascade Lasers

Journal Article · Tue Mar 16 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Physical Review Applied

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.15.034045· OSTI ID:1851138

Soleimanikahnoj, S. ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[2]

Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); OSTI
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

In this report we develop a time-dependent density-matrix model to study photon-assisted (PA) electron transport in quantum cascade lasers. The Markovian equation of motion for the density matrix in the presence of an optical field is solved for an arbitrary field amplitude. Level-broadening terms emerge from microscopic Hamiltonians and supplant the need for empirical parameters that are often employed in related approaches. We show that, in quantum cascade lasers with diagonal design, photon resonances have a pronounced impact on electron dynamics around and above the lasing threshold, an effect that stems from the large spatial separation between the upper and lower lasing states. With the inclusion of PA tunneling, the calculated current density and output power are in good agreement with experiment.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0008712

OSTI ID:: 1851138

Journal Information:: Physical Review Applied, Journal Name: Physical Review Applied Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 15; ISSN 2331-7019

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
Markovian processes
density matrix methods
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laser systems
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optoelectronics
quantum cascade lasers
quantum transport

Density-Matrix Model for Photon-Driven Transport in Quantum Cascade Lasers

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