Voltage tuning of gain spectra in quantum cascade lasers

Yu Yao, Kale J. Franz, Zhijun Liu, Anthony J. Hoffman, Claire F. Gmachl

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The voltage tuning of gain spectra in three types of Quantum Cascade laser designs is investigated. The gain spectra of the luminescence device are tunable over the whole voltage operation range for all designs. The lasers are as tunable as the electroluminescence below threshold, while a reduced tunability is observed in all lasers above threshold. This is attributed to the decrease of resistance across the laser active region as the photon density increases. A resumed tunability high above threshold occurs in all lasers based on the anti-crossed designs. Lasers based on the anti-crossed diagonal transition are tunable above threshold, with a tuning range of about 40 cm-1 (∼4% of the laser emission wavenumber) at room temperature, i.e. a tuning rate of 800 cm-1 per volt per period of active region and injector.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7230
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
EventNovel In-Plane Semiconductor Lasers VIII - San Jose, CA, United States
Duration: Jan 26 2009Jan 29 2009

Other

OtherNovel In-Plane Semiconductor Lasers VIII
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Jose, CA
Period1/26/091/29/09

Keywords

  • Quantum cascade lasers
  • Semiconductor lasers
  • Stark effect
  • Tunable lasers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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