Title :
Optical Mode Control of Surface-Plasmon Quantum Cascade Lasers
Author :
Moreau, V. ; Bahriz, M. ; Palomo, J. ; Wilson, L.R. ; Krysa, A.B. ; Sirtori, C. ; Austin, D.A. ; Cockburn, J.W. ; Roberts, J.S. ; Colombelli, R.
Author_Institution :
Inst. d´´Electronique Fondamentale, Univ. de Paris-Sud, Orsay
Abstract :
Surface-plasmon waveguides based on metallic strips can provide a two-dimensional optical confinement. This concept has been successfully applied to midinfrared quantum cascade lasers, processed as ridge waveguides, to demonstrate that the lateral extension of the optical mode can be influenced solely by the width of the device top contact. In this configuration, the waveguide mode has a reduced interaction with the top metal and the ridge sidewalls. This results in lower propagation losses and higher performances. For devices operating at a wavelength of lambdaap7.5 mum, the room-temperature threshold current density was reduced from 6.3 to 4.4 kA/cm2 with respect to larger devices with full top metallization
Keywords :
current density; infrared sources; laser modes; optical control; optical losses; optical waveguides; quantum cascade lasers; ridge waveguides; surface plasmons; metallization; midinfrared quantum cascade lasers; optical mode control; propagation loss; ridge waveguides; surface-plasmon waveguides; threshold current density; waveguide mode; Optical control; Optical devices; Optical surface waves; Optical waveguides; Propagation losses; Quantum cascade lasers; Strips; Surface emitting lasers; Surface waves; Threshold current; Midinfrared; semiconductor lasers; surface-plasmons;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2006.886827
