Low threshold, high temperature operation of continuous wave interband cascade lasers near 5 μm

作者：Yuzhe Lin, Yuan Ma, Wanhua Zheng, Kedong Zhang, Hong Lü, Rui Q. Yang · 发表于：Applied Physics Letters · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1063/5.0228654 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Spectroscopy and Laser Applications、Semiconductor Lasers and Optical Devices、Analytical Chemistry and Sensors

We report significant improvements in threshold current density and maximum operating temperature in continuous wave (CW) operation of interband cascade lasers (ICLs) near 5 μm. The uncoated ICLs were demonstrated at room temperature with a threshold current density of 343.8 A/cm2 and an output power of 31 mW/facet at 25 °C in CW mode. Different ICLs made from the same wafer were compared to study the impact of device dimensions on performance. The threshold current density of 331 A/cm2 achieved from a facet-uncoated 5 mm-long device at 25 °C is the lowest among all previously reported room temperature CW ICLs with emission wavelengths longer than 4 μm. Compared to the previous record of 480 A/cm2 at 4.75 μm for a facet-coated 4-mm-long ICL at 25 °C, this value of 331 A/cm2 is reduced by 31%, representing a substantial improvement. Benefited from improved device fabrication and enhanced thermal dissipation, the maximum CW operating temperature of the device reached 66 °C, which is the highest ever reported for ICLs with similar emission wavelengths.