Modeling with graded interfaces: Tool for understanding and designing record-high power and efficiency mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers.

By employing a graded-interfaces model based on a generalized formalism for interface-roughness (IFR) scattering that was modified for mid-infrared emitting quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), we have accurately reproduced the electro-optical characteristics of published record-performance 4.9 µm- and 8.3 µm-emitting QCLs.

Midwave resonant cavity infrared detectors (RCIDs) with suppressed background noise.

We report a resonant cavity infrared detector (RCID) with an InAsSb/InAs superlattice absorber with a thickness of only ≈ 100 nm, a 33-period GaAs/AlGaAs distributed Bragg reflector bottom mirror, and a Ge/SiO/Ge top mirror. At a low bias voltage of 150 mV, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) reaches 58% at the resonance wavelength λres ≈ 4.6 µm, with linewidth δλ = 19-27 nm.

Beam stability of buried-heterostructure quantum cascade lasers employing HVPE regrowth.

Measurements of beam stability for mid-infrared (IR)-emitting quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are important for applications that require the beam to travel through air to remote targets, such as free-space communication links. We report beam-quality measurement results of narrow-ridge, 4.6 µm-emitting buried-heterostructure (BH) QCLs fabricated using ICP etching and HVPE regrowth.