Terahertz quantum-cascade laser operating up to 137 K

Abstract

We report operation of a terahertz quantum-cascade laser at 3.8 THz (λ≈79 μm) up to a heat-sink temperature of 137 K. A resonant phonon depopulation design was used with a low-loss metal–metal waveguide, which provided a confinement factor of nearly unity. A threshold current density of 625 A/cm2 was obtained in pulsed mode at 5 K. Devices fabricated using a conventional semi-insulating surface-plasmon waveguide lased up to 92 K with a threshold current density of 670 A/cm2 at 5 K.