Ridge-width dependence on high-temperature continuous-wave quantum-cascade laser operation

Author

Slivken, S. ; Yu, J.S. ; Evans, A. ; David, J. ; Doris, L. ; Razeghi, M.

Author_Institution

Electr. & Comput. Eng. Dept., Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL, USA

Volume

16

Issue

3

fYear

2004

fDate

3/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

744

Lastpage

746

Abstract

We report continuous-wave (CW) operation of quantum-cascade lasers (/spl lambda/=6 μm) up to a temperature of 313 K (40/spl deg/C). The maximum CW optical output powers range from 212 mW at 288 K to 22 mW at 313 K and are achieved with threshold current densities of 2.21 and 3.11 kA/cm², respectively, for a high-reflectivity-coated 12-μm-wide and 2-mm-long laser. At room temperature (298 K), the power output is 145 mW at 0.87 A, corresponding to a power conversion efficiency of 1.68%. The maximum CW operating temperature of double-channel ridge waveguide lasers mounted epilayer-up on copper heatsinks is analyzed in terms of the ridge width, which is varied between 12 and 40 μm. A clear trend of improved performance is observed as the ridge narrows.

Keywords

current density; heat sinks; high-temperature effects; optical testing; quantum cascade lasers; ridge waveguides; waveguide lasers; 0.87 A; 1.68 percent; 12 to 40 mum; 145 mW; 2 mm; 212 mW; 22 mW; 288 K; 298 K; 313 K; 40 degC; 6 mum; continuous-wave operation; copper heatsinks; double-channel ridge waveguide lasers; high-reflectivity-coated laser; high-temperature operation; infrared measurements; power conversion efficiency; quantum-cascade lasers; quantum-well lasers; ridge width; ridge-width dependence; room temperature; threshold current densities; Etching; Gas lasers; Optical device fabrication; Power generation; Power lasers; Quantum cascade lasers; Quantum computing; Semiconductor lasers; Temperature distribution; Waveguide lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2004.823746

Filename

1269781