Quantum-cascade lasers based on a bound-to-continuum transition

Faist, Jérôme; Beck, Mattias; Aellen, Thierry; Gini, E.

doi:10.1063/1.1339843

Cited by 236 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…At the same time, carrier escape from the active region into the collector occurs via the active region ground level-collector states transitions (82%) and lower laser level-collector transitions (9%), while 11% of the carriers escape directly from the upper laser level into the collector. As is well known from the approximate three-level model with nonunity injection, 35 the fractional injection rates are very important parameters and significantly affect laser gain. The temperature dependence of the injection efficiency into the active region for different bias values, and also of the escape rates of electrons from the active region into the collector were also investigated, and the results are given in Figs.…”

Section: Numerical Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-consistent scattering theory of transport and output characteristics of quantum cascade lasers

Indjin

Harrison

Kelsall

et al. 2002

Journal of Applied Physics

122

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Electron transport in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade lasers operating in midinfrared is calculated self-consistently using an intersubband scattering model. Subband populations and carrier transition rates are calculated and all relevant electron-LO phonon and electron-electron scatterings between injector/collector, active region, and continuum resonance levels are included. The calculated carrier lifetimes and subband populations are then used to evaluate scattering current densities, injection efficiencies, and carrier backflow into the active region for a range of operating temperatures. From the calculated modal gain versus total current density dependencies the output characteristics, in particular the gain coefficient and threshold current, are extracted. For the original GaAs/Al 0.33 Ga 0.67 As quantum cascade structure ͓C. Sirtori et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 73, 3486 ͑1998͔͒ these are found to be gϭ11.3 cm/kA and J th ϭ6Ϯ1 kA/cm 2 ͑at Tϭ77 K͒, and gϭ7.9 cm/kA and J th ϭ10Ϯ1 kA/cm 2 ͑at Tϭ200 K͒, in good agreement with the experiment. Calculations shows that threshold cannot be achieved in this structure at Tϭ300 K, due to the small gain coefficient and the gain saturation effect, also in agreement with experimental findings. The model thus promises to be a powerful tool for the prediction and optimization of new, improved quantum cascade structures.

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Section: Numerical Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-consistent scattering theory of transport and output characteristics of quantum cascade lasers

Indjin

Harrison

Kelsall

et al. 2002

Journal of Applied Physics

122

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“…Giant optical non-linearity for the DFG process is integrated in the QCL band structure by reducing the thickness of the extraction barrier and producing significant anticrossing between the lower laser level state and the injection states. As a result, the laser design effectively becomes a boundto-continuum QCL design 21 . Details of the active region design is provided in the Methods section.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Broadly tunable terahertz generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

et al. 2013

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Room temperature, broadly tunable, electrically pumped semiconductor sources in the terahertz spectral range, similar in operation simplicity to diode lasers, are highly desired for applications. An emerging technology in this area are sources based on intracavity difference-frequency generation in dual-wavelength mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers. Here we report terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on an optimized non-collinear Cherenkov difference-frequency generation scheme that demonstrates dramatic improvements in performance. Devices emitting at 4 THz display a mid-infrared-to-terahertz conversion efficiency in excess of 0.6 mW W À 2 and provide nearly 0.12 mW of peak power output. Devices emitting at 2 and 3 THz fabricated on the same chip display 0.09 and 0.4 mW W À 2 conversion efficiencies at room temperature, respectively. High terahertzgeneration efficiency and relaxed phase-matching conditions offered by the Cherenkov scheme allowed us to demonstrate, for the first time, an external-cavity terahertz quantum cascade laser source tunable between 1.70 and 5.25 THz.

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“…As QCLs are based on intersub-band transitions exhibiting an atomic-like joint density of states, heterogenous stacks 29 of active regions can be combined, achieving very large spectral coverage 30 when based on individual broadband active regions designs 31 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Dual-comb spectroscopy based on quantum-cascade-laser frequency combs

et al. 2014

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Dual-comb spectroscopy performed in the mid-infrared-where molecules have their strongest rotovibrational absorption lines-offers the promise of high spectral resolution broadband spectroscopy with very short acquisition times (ms) and no moving parts. Recently, we demonstrated frequency comb operation of a quantum-cascade-laser. We now use that device in a compact, dual-comb spectrometer. The noise properties of the heterodyne beat are close to the shot noise limit. Broadband (15 cm À 1 ) high-resolution (80 MHz) absorption spectroscopy of both a GaAs etalon and water vapour is demonstrated, showing the potential of quantum-cascade-laser frequency combs as the basis for a compact, all solid-state, broadband chemical sensor.

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Quantum-cascade lasers based on a bound-to-continuum transition

Cited by 236 publications

References 10 publications

Self-consistent scattering theory of transport and output characteristics of quantum cascade lasers

Self-consistent scattering theory of transport and output characteristics of quantum cascade lasers

Broadly tunable terahertz generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

Dual-comb spectroscopy based on quantum-cascade-laser frequency combs

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