We present a novel terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) design where Γ-valley states are used for lasing transition and X-valley states—in particular, Xz-states—are used as injector subbands. Since the lasing states in our proposed structure are populated and depopulated mainly through the interface roughness assisted Γ-Xz electron scattering, we present a model to describe this intervalley carrier transport. In the injector region of the proposed THz QCL, we use a quaternary AlGaAsP material to introduce tensile strain, which plays a crucial role in increasing the gain. To compensate the strain per period, we propose to grow the periodic heterostructure on a GaAs0.94P0.06 virtual substrate. To simulate the carrier transport and hence calculate the gain and lasing performance of the proposed THz QCL, we use a simplified density matrix formalism that considers resonant tunneling, dephasing, and the important intersubband scattering mechanisms. Since electron temperature significantly varies from lattice temperature for QCLs, we take their difference into account using the kinetic energy balance method. We show that the proposed structure is capable of lasing up to a maximum lattice temperature of ∼119 K at 4.8 THz. For future improvements of the device, we identify major performance-degrading factors of the proposed design.

A new state of instability called harmonic instability, which is characterized by the appearance of side modes separated by multiple of free spectral range from each other, was discovered in quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) a few years ago. However, a detailed analysis using a model beyond the two-level density-matrix (DM) equations as well as incorporating phenomena such as the detuning of the primary-mode frequency from the line-center frequency and the frequency dependence of the background refractive index, resulting in group velocity dispersion (GVD), has not been performed yet. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of harmonic instability in a QCL with a Fabry–Perot (FP) cavity. Starting from three-level DM equations, which include the resonant tunneling phenomenon and scattering rates between all three states, and then by using Maxwell's equation, we derive a closed-form expression for the gain of the side modes, from which quantities pertinent to instability can be determined. We also take the aforementioned phenomena into account in our theory. By using our theory, we show the way of determining primary-mode detuning from the line center. Furthermore, we study the effects of GVD on instability in detail, showing that the output from an FP QCL demonstrates the characteristic of a frequency-modulated wave up to a certain value of dispersion. Above this value, because of the significant deviation of the side-mode amplitude ratio from unity, the output shows neither frequency-modulated-like nor amplitude-modulated-like behavior.