Intersubband Quantum Cascade Infrared Laser Development. Phase 1

Intersubband Quantum Cascade Infrared Laser Development. Phase 1 PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 11

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Book Description
The objectives of this program were threefold: to reproduce the quantum cascade laser results from Bell Labs in a production environment, to demonstrate the quantum cascade laser at longer wavelengths, and to extend the technology to the GaAs/AlGaAs material system in order to make the lasers easier to produce. After characterization with 5-crystal x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence to verify the material quality three laser wafers, with anticipated operating wavelengths near 4.5 microns and 8.5 microns, were grown, processed, and tested for this program. Although we were able to successfully grow the very thick lattice matched layers necessary for these devices, no lasing or electroluminescence was observed from any of the samples. Another laser design was produced based on the reported quantum cascade laser structures, but utilizing GaAs and AlGaAs materials instead of InGaAs and InAlAs; however, because of the negative results with the InGaAs/InAlAs structure and additional design uncertainties for the AlGaAs materials, this structure was not grown. This report will discuss in detail the work that was performed on the contract, possible cause for the negative results, and conclusions drawn from the work.

Intersubband Quantum Cascade Infrared Laser Development. Phase 1

Intersubband Quantum Cascade Infrared Laser Development. Phase 1 PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 11

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Book Description
The objectives of this program were threefold: to reproduce the quantum cascade laser results from Bell Labs in a production environment, to demonstrate the quantum cascade laser at longer wavelengths, and to extend the technology to the GaAs/AlGaAs material system in order to make the lasers easier to produce. After characterization with 5-crystal x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence to verify the material quality three laser wafers, with anticipated operating wavelengths near 4.5 microns and 8.5 microns, were grown, processed, and tested for this program. Although we were able to successfully grow the very thick lattice matched layers necessary for these devices, no lasing or electroluminescence was observed from any of the samples. Another laser design was produced based on the reported quantum cascade laser structures, but utilizing GaAs and AlGaAs materials instead of InGaAs and InAlAs; however, because of the negative results with the InGaAs/InAlAs structure and additional design uncertainties for the AlGaAs materials, this structure was not grown. This report will discuss in detail the work that was performed on the contract, possible cause for the negative results, and conclusions drawn from the work.

Intersubband Transitions for One Period of Quantum Cascade Laser

Intersubband Transitions for One Period of Quantum Cascade Laser PDF Author: Jawad Ahmed Qureshi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 62

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Book Description


Mid-Infrared and Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

Mid-Infrared and Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers PDF Author: Dan Botez
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108570607
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 552

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Book Description
Learn how the rapidly expanding area of mid-infrared and terahertz photonics has been revolutionized in this comprehensive overview. State-of-the-art practical applications are supported by real-life examples and expert guidance. Also featuring fundamental theory enabling you to improve performance of both existing and future devices.

Progress Towards Intersubband Quantum-Box Lasers for Highly Efficient Continuous Wave Operation in the Mid-Infrared

Progress Towards Intersubband Quantum-Box Lasers for Highly Efficient Continuous Wave Operation in the Mid-Infrared PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 13

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Book Description
Intersubband quantum-box (IQB) lasers, which are devices consisting of 2-D arrays of ministacks (i.e., 2-4 stages) intersubband QB emitters have been proposed as alternatives to 30-stage quantum-cascade (QC) devices, for efficient room-temperature (RT) emission in the mid-infrared (4-6 micrometer) wavelength range. Preliminary results include: 1) the design of devices for operation with 50% wallplug efficiency at RT; 2) realization of a novel type of QC device: the deep-well (DW) QC laser, that has demonstrated at lamba = 4.7 micrometer low temperature sensitivity of the threshold current, a clear indication of suppressed carrier leakage; 3) the formation of 2-D arrays at nanopoles by employing nanopatterning and dry etching; 4) the formation of 40 nm-diameter, one-stage IQB structures on 100 nm centers by preferential regrowth via metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE).

Quantum Cascade Lasers Based on Intra-cavity Frequency Mixing

Quantum Cascade Lasers Based on Intra-cavity Frequency Mixing PDF Author: Min Jang
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) operate due to population inversion on intersubband in unipolar mutiple-quantum-well (MQW) heterostructure. QCLs are considered one of the most flexible and powerful light semiconductor sources in the mid- and far-infrared (IR) wavelength range, covering most of the critical spectral regions relevant to IR applications. InGaAs/InAlAs/InP QCLs are the only semiconductor lasers capable of continuous wave (CW) operation at room temperature (RT) in the spectral range 3.4-12 micron. This dissertation details the development of RT QCLs based on passive nonlinear coupled-quantum-well structures monolithically integrated into mid-IR QCLs to provide a giant nonlinear response for the pumping frequency. The primary focus of short-wavelength approach in this dissertation is to develop of RT InGaAs/InAlAs/InP QCLs for lamda=2.5-3.7 micron region, based on quasi-phase-matched intracavity second harmonic generation (SHG) associated with intersubband transition. Intersubband optical transition can be engineered by the choice of quantum well and barrier thicknesses to provide the appropriate energy levels, optical dipole matrix elements, and electron scattering rates amongst other parameters. Thus, aside from their linear optical properties, resonant intersubband transitions in coupled QW's can also be designed to produce nonlinear optical medium with giant nonlinear optical susceptibilities. In long-wavelength region, at high temperature, the population inversion is reduced between the upper and lower laser levels due to the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon scattering of thermal carriers in the upper laser state and the thermal backfilling of carriers into the lower laser level from the injector state. This dissertation aims to improve an alternative approach for THz QCL sources based on intra-cavity difference frequency generation (DFG) in dual-wavelength mid-IR QCLs with a passive nonlinear structure, designed for giant optical nonlinearity. Further studies describe that Cerenkov DFG scheme allows for extraction of THz radiation along the whole length of the laser waveguide and provides directional THz emission in 1.2-4.5 THz range. An important requirement for many applications, like chemical sensing and molecular spectroscopy, is single-mode emission. We demonstrate single-mode RT DFG THz QCLs operation in 1-5 THz region by employing devices as integrated dual-period DFB lasers, where efficient solid state RT sources do not exist.

Quantum Cascade Lasers Grown by Gas-source Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Quantum Cascade Lasers Grown by Gas-source Molecular Beam Epitaxy PDF Author: Steven B. Slivken
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The quantum cascade laser is a new type of mid- and far-infrared semiconductor laser. Through quantum mechanical "bandgap engineering", an intersubband laser can be designed within the conduction band of an arbitrary semiconductor heterostructure. The goal of this work is to develop a compact infrared laser that is clearly superior to its' competitors, and is capable of deployment in a variety of advanced infrared systems. Inside this thesis, this topic will be explored in detail.

Development of Terahertz QCLs

Development of Terahertz QCLs PDF Author: Sushil Kumar (Ph. D.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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Book Description
The terahertz or the far-infrared frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum (...) has historically been technologically underdeveloped despite having many potential applications, primarily due to lack of suitable sources of coherent radiation. Following on the remarkable development of mid-infrared (...) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) in the past decade, this thesis describes the development of electrically-pumped terahertz quantum-cascade lasers in GaAs/AlsGal_. As heterostructures that span a spectral range of 1.59 - 5.0 THz (...). A quantum-cascade laser (QCL) emits photons due to electronic intersubband transitions in the quantum-wells of a semiconductor heterostructure. The operation of terahertz QCLs at frequencies below the Reststrahlen band in the semiconductor (...), is significantly more challenging as compared to that of the mid-infrared QCLs. Firstly, due to small energy separation between the laser levels various intersubband scattering mechanisms are activated, which make it difficult to selectively depopulate the lower laser level. Additionally, as electrons gain enough kinetic energy in the upper laser level thermally activated longitudinal-optical (LO) phonon scattering reduces the level lifetime and makes it difficult to sustain population inversion at higher temperatures. Secondly, waveguide design for terahertz mode confinement is also more challenging due to higher free-carrier losses in the semiconducting doped regions at the terahertz frequencies. For successful designs reported in this work, the lower radiative state depopulation is achieved by a combination of resonant-tunneling and fast LO phonon scattering, which allow robust operation even at relatively high temperatures. An equally important enabling mechanism for these lasers is the development of metal-metal waveguides, which provide low waveguides losses, and strong mode confinement due to subwavelength mode localization in the vertical dimension. With these techniques some record performances for terahertz QCLs are demonstrated including the highest pulsed operating temperature of 169 K, the highest continuous-wave (cw) operating temperature of 117 K, and the highest optical power output (248 mW in pulsed and 138 mW in cw at 5 K) for any terahertz QCL. Towards the bigger goal of realizing a 1-THz solid-state laser to ultimately bridge the gap between electronic and optical sources of electromagnetic radiation, QCLs with a unique one-well injection scheme, which minimizes intersubband absorption losses that occur at longer wavelengths, are developed. Based on this scheme a QCL operating at 1.59 THz (A - 189 ym) is realized, which is amongst the lowest frequency solid-state lasers that operate without the assistance of a magnetic field. This thesis also reports on the development of distributed-feedback lasers in metal-metal waveguides to obtain single-mode operation, with greater output power and better beam quality. The subwavelength vertical dimension in these waveguides leads to a strongly coupled DFB action and a large reflection from the end-facets, and thus conventional coupled-mode theory is not directly applicable to the DFB design. A design technique with precise control of phase of reflection at the end-facets is developed with the aid of finite-element analysis, and with some additional unique design and fabrication methods, robust DFB operation has been obtained. Single-mode surface-emitting terahertz QCLs operating up to - 150 K are demonstrated, with different grating devices spanning a range of approximately 0.35 THz around v - 3 THz using the same gain medium. A single-lobed far-field radiation pattern, higher output power due to surface-emission, and a relatively small degradation in temperature performance compared to the Fabry-Perot ridge lasers makes these DFB lasers well suited for practical applications that are being targeted by the terahertz quantum-cascade lasers.

Quantum Cascade Lasers

Quantum Cascade Lasers PDF Author: Jérôme Faist
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198528248
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
This book describes the physics, fabrication technology, and applications of the quantum cascade laser.

Design, Fabrication, and Optimization of Quantum Cascade Laser Cavities and Spectroscopy of the Intersubband Gain

Design, Fabrication, and Optimization of Quantum Cascade Laser Cavities and Spectroscopy of the Intersubband Gain PDF Author: Afusat Olayinka Dirisu
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780549967583
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 468

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Book Description
This thesis was focused on the improvement of QC lasers through the design and optimization of the laser cavity and characterization of the laser gain medium. The optimization of the laser cavity included, (1) the design and fabrication of high reflection Bragg gratings and subwavelength antireflection gratings, by focused ion beam milling, to achieve tunable, single mode and high power QC lasers, and (2) modeling of slab-coupled optical waveguide QC lasers for high brightness output beams. The characterization of the QC laser gain medium was carried out using the single-pass transmission experiment, a sensitive measurement technique, for probing the intersubband transitions and the electron distribution of QC lasers under different temperatures and applied bias conditions, unlike typical infrared measurement techniques that are restricted to non-functional devices. With the single-pass technique, basic understanding of the physics behind the workings of the QC laser gain can be achieved, which is invaluable in the design of QC lasers with high output power and high operating temperatures.

Intersubband Transitions in Quantum Wells: Physics and Devices

Intersubband Transitions in Quantum Wells: Physics and Devices PDF Author: Sheng S. Li
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461557593
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 221

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Book Description
The International Workshop on "Intersubband Transitions in Quantum Wells:: Physics and Applications," was held at National Cheng Kung University, in Tainan, Taiwan, December 15-18, 1997. The objective of the Workshop is to facilitate the presentation and discussion of the recent results in theoretical, experimental, and applied aspects of intersubband transitions in quantum wells and dots. The program followed the tradition initiated at the 1991 conference in Cargese-France, the 1993 conference in Whistler, B. C. Canada, and the 1995 conference in Kibbutz Ginosar, Israel. Intersubband transitions in quantum wells and quantum dots have attracted considerable attention in recent years, mainly due to the promise of various applications in the mid- and far-infrared regions (2-30 J. lm). Over 40 invited and contributed papers were presented in this four-day workshop, with topics covered most aspects of the intersubband transition phenomena including: the basic intersubband transition processes, multiquantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) physics, large format (640x480) GaAs QWIP (with 9. 0 J. lffi cutoff) focal plane arrays (FPAs) for IR imaging camera applications, infrared modulation, intersubband emission including mid- and long- wavelength quantum cascade (QC) lasers such as short (A. "" 3. 4 J. lm) and long (A. "" 11. 5 J. lm) wavelength room temperature QC lasers, quantum fountain intersubband laser at 15. 5 J. lm wavelength in GaAs/AIGaAs quantum well, harmonic generation and nonlinear effects, ultra-fast phenomena such as terahertz (THz) intersubband emission and detection. The book divides into five Chapters.