High Performance Quantum Cascade Lasers

ORAL

Abstract

Quantum cascade (QC) lasers have shown great promise for use in applications ranging from trace chemical detection to infrared countermeasures. Since light is generated through intersubband transitions in coupled quantum wells, as opposed to interband transitions that are restricted by available materials, QC lasers have an enormous amount of flexibility in their design space. This flexibility allows for lasing across the mid- infrared and even in the terahertz portions of the spectrum. We report on our recent work to improve the performance of these devices, by discussing the results of low voltage defect, strong coupling, and broad gain approaches to QC laser design. One of these laser designs will be put into context through discussion of our latest work to use QC lasers for detecting CO2 isotopic concentrations in the atmosphere.

Authors

  • Matthew Escarra

    Princeton University

  • Peter Liu

    Princeton University

  • Yu Yao

    Princeton University

  • Richard Cendejas

    Princeton University

  • Philip Adams

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, ORNL, UT, ORNL/UT, UK, LSU, Louisiana State University, Zhejiang Normal University, Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University, University of Tuebingen, Germany, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Max Plank Institute for Astrophysics, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, Albert Einstein Institute, California Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics \& Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, Dept. of Physics \& Astronomy, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA 70803, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Dept. of Physics \& Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Ohio State University, Wright State University, Department of Physics, North Carolina A\&T State University, Clark Atlanta University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, P, Princeton University, University of New Orleans, Alabama A\&M University, Vanderbilt Univ., Konstanz Univ., Isik Univ., Department of Physics, Yale University

  • Claire Gmachl

    Princeton University