Thermal characteristics of quantum-cascade lasers by micro-probe optical spectroscopy

Author

Spagnolo, V. ; Scamarcio, G. ; Marano, D. ; Troccoli, M. ; Capasso, F. ; Gmachl, C. ; Sergent, A.M. ; Hutchinson, A.L. ; Sivco, D.L. ; Cho, A.Y. ; Page, H. ; Becker, C. ; Sirtori, C.

Author_Institution

Dipt. Interateneo di Fisica di Bari, Italy

Volume

150

Issue

4

fYear

2003

Firstpage

298

Lastpage

305

Abstract

The facet temperature profile and the thermal resistance of operating quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) have been assessed using a microprobe band-to-band photoluminescence technique. Substrate-side and epilayer-side-mounted QCLs based on GaInAs/AlInAs/InP and GaAs/AlGaAs material systems have been compared. The dependence of the thermal resistance on the CW or pulsed injection conditions and its correlation with the output power have been studied. These results were used as inputs for a two-dimensional heat-diffusion model which gives the heat fluxes and the thermal conductivity of the active regions, in order to design QCLs with improved thermal properties.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; aluminium compounds; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; indium compounds; photoluminescence; quantum cascade lasers; thermal conductivity; thermal diffusion; thermal resistance; thermo-optical effects; GaAs-AlGaAs; GaAs/AlGaAs material systems; GaInAs-AlInAs-InP; GaInAs/AlInAs/InP material systems; band-to-band photoluminescence; continuous-wave conditions; epilayer-side-mounted QCL; facet temperature profile; heat fluxes; microprobe optical spectroscopy; pulsed injection conditions; quantum-cascade lasers; substrate-side QCL; thermal characteristics; thermal conductivity; thermal resistance; two-dimensional heat-diffusion model;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Optoelectronics, IEE Proceedings -

Publisher

iet

ISSN

1350-2433

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/ip-opt:20030610

Filename

1244981