A compressively strained InAsSb/InAs multiple quantum-well (MQW) structure was grown by low-pressure metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Maximum output power (from two facets) up to 1 W with differential efficiency about 70% was obtained from a MQW laser with stripe width of 100 μm and cavity length of 700 μm for emitting wavelength of 3.65 μm at 90 K in pulse mode operation. About 2 times lower threshold current density was obtained from the MQW lasers for a temperature range of 90 to 140 K compared to the double heterostructure lasers grown on the same growth conditions.

Photoluminescence has been measured for double- and separate-confinement InAsSb/InAsSbP heterostructures grown by low-pressure metalorganic vapor deposition. A measurement of the integrated luminescence intensity at the temperature range of 77–300 K shows that over a wide range of excitation level (1–5×102 W/cm2) the radiative transitions are the dominant mechanism below T∼170 K. Auger recombination coefficient C=C0 exp(−Ea/kT) with C0≊5×10−27 cm6/s and Ea≊40 meV has been estimated.

The optimized structure for the InGaAsP/GaAs quaternary material lasers (λ=0.808 μm) is investigated for the most efficient high-power operation through an experiment and theoretical study. A comparative study is performed of threshold current density Jth and differential efficiency ηd dependence on cavity length (L) for two different laser structures with different active layer thickness (150 and 300 Å) as well as for laser structures with different multiple quantum well structures. A theoretical model with a more accurate formulation for minority leakage phenomenon provides explanation for the experimental results and sets general optimization rules for other lasers with similar restrictions on the band gap and refractive index difference between the active layer and the cladding layers.