We report on the design, growth and characterization of electrically pumped quantum cascade lasers (QCL) and LEDs, based on the GaAs/AlGaAs material system. Intersubband and interminiband optical transitions within the conduction band of a heterostructure are used to achieve spontaneous emission and lasing action. Samples are grown using solid source molecular beam epitaxy. Transport measurements, IR photocurrent spectral response, transmission and emission measurements are performed. Laser wavelength above ten microns are achieved. Peak powers are in the 200 mW range. Laser operation up to 100K and threshold current densities below 15 kA/cm² are recorded. Ridge lasers exhibit multimode spectra, typical for Fabry-Perot resonators. Room temperature spontaneous emission is recorded, showing the feasibility of a room temperature operating QCL on the GaAs/AlGaAs material system.

Date Published: 9 September 1999
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 3828, Terahertz Spectroscopy and Applications II, (9 September 1999); doi: 10.1117/12.361052

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3828:
Terahertz Spectroscopy and Applications II
J. Martyn Chamberlain, Editor(s)