Short Barriers for Lowering Current-Density in Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers
Abstract
Scattering due to interface-roughness (IR) and longitudinal-optical (LO) phonons are primary transport mechanisms in terahertz quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs). By choosing GaAs/Al 0.10Ga 0.90As heterostructures with short-barriers, the effect of IR scattering is mitigated, leading to low operating current-densities. A series of resonant-phonon terahertz QCLs developed over time, achieving some of the lowest threshold and peak current-densities among published terahertz QCLs with maximum operating temperatures above 100 K. The best result is obtained for a three-well 3.1 THz QCL with threshold and peak current-densities of 134 A/cm 2 and 208 A/cm 2 respectively at 53 K, and a maximum lasing temperature of 135 K. Another three-well QCL designed for broadband bidirectional operation achieved lasing in a combined frequency range of 3.1–3.7 THz operating under both positive and negative polarities, with an operating current-density range of 167–322 A/cm 2 at 53 K and maximum lasing temperature of 141 K or 121 K depending on the polarity of the applied bias. By showing results from QCLs developed over a period of time, here we show conclusively that short-barrier terahertz QCLs are effective in achieving low current-density operation at the cost of a reduction in peak temperature performance.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[1]
- Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (United States)
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Scientific User Facilities Division
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1595937
- Report Number(s):
- [SAND-2020-0624J]
[Journal ID: ISSN 2304-6732; PHOTC5; 682968]
- Grant/Contract Number:
- [AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525; ECCS 1609168; ECCS 1351142]
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Photonics
- Additional Journal Information:
- [ Journal Volume: 7; Journal Issue: 1]; Journal ID: ISSN 2304-6732
- Publisher:
- MDPI
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; terahertz lasers; quantum cascade lasers; interface roughness scattering; LO-phonon scattering
Citation Formats
Gao, Liang, Reno, John L., and Kumar, Sushil. Short Barriers for Lowering Current-Density in Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.3390/photonics7010007.
Gao, Liang, Reno, John L., & Kumar, Sushil. Short Barriers for Lowering Current-Density in Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers. United States. doi:10.3390/photonics7010007.
Gao, Liang, Reno, John L., and Kumar, Sushil. Wed .
"Short Barriers for Lowering Current-Density in Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers". United States. doi:10.3390/photonics7010007. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1595937.
@article{osti_1595937,
title = {Short Barriers for Lowering Current-Density in Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers},
author = {Gao, Liang and Reno, John L. and Kumar, Sushil},
abstractNote = {Scattering due to interface-roughness (IR) and longitudinal-optical (LO) phonons are primary transport mechanisms in terahertz quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs). By choosing GaAs/Al0.10Ga0.90As heterostructures with short-barriers, the effect of IR scattering is mitigated, leading to low operating current-densities. A series of resonant-phonon terahertz QCLs developed over time, achieving some of the lowest threshold and peak current-densities among published terahertz QCLs with maximum operating temperatures above 100 K. The best result is obtained for a three-well 3.1 THz QCL with threshold and peak current-densities of 134 A/cm2 and 208 A/cm2 respectively at 53 K, and a maximum lasing temperature of 135 K. Another three-well QCL designed for broadband bidirectional operation achieved lasing in a combined frequency range of 3.1–3.7 THz operating under both positive and negative polarities, with an operating current-density range of 167–322 A/cm2 at 53 K and maximum lasing temperature of 141 K or 121 K depending on the polarity of the applied bias. By showing results from QCLs developed over a period of time, here we show conclusively that short-barrier terahertz QCLs are effective in achieving low current-density operation at the cost of a reduction in peak temperature performance.},
doi = {10.3390/photonics7010007},
journal = {Photonics},
number = [1],
volume = [7],
place = {United States},
year = {2020},
month = {1}
}
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