Quantum cascade laser: Temperature dependence of the performance characteristics and high <i>T</i>0 operation

Abstract

The design and temperature dependence of the performance characteristics of a quantum cascade intersubband laser operating pulsed in the midinfrared (λ≂4.3 μm) are reported. The threshold current density varies exponentially with temperature [exp(T/T0)] from ≊6.0 kA/cm2 at 50 K to ≊9.3 kA/cm2 up to the maximum operating temperature (125 K) with a T0∼112 K. This weak temperature dependence, compared to interband lasers operating at similar wavelengths, is due to the intersubband nature of the laser transition, to the physics of optical phonons scattering, and to the negligible intersubband Auger transition rates. The measured peak optical power varies from 32 mW at 10 K to 18 mW at 80 K for a 1.2-mm cavity length. The measured slope efficiency is 52 mW/A at 80 K which corresponds to an estimated differential quantum efficiency of ≂3.4×10−2 per facet per stage.