Performance characteristics of a continuous-wave compact widely tunable external cavity interband cascade lasers

Caffey, David; Day, Timothy; Kim, Chul Soo; Kim, Mijin; Vurgaftman, I.; Bewley, W. W.; Lindle, J. R.; Canedy, C. L.; Abell, J.; Meyer, J. R.

doi:10.1364/oe.18.015691

Cited by 33 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…III-V antimonide infrared (IR) detectors typically operate cryogenically [1,2], whereas the latest generation of midwave IR (mid-IR) lasers operates at room temperature [3,4]. However, both performances degrade rapidly with increasing temperature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, the maximum continuous-wave (cw) output power and operating temperature [3] of a mid-IR interband cascade laser (ICL) [4] is limited by the thermal impedance. The ICL consists of a thin active core (200-300 nm) sandwiched between somewhat thicker GaSb separate-confinement layers, which are in turn enclosed by top (1-1.5 µm thick) and bottom (3-4 µm thick) InAs/AlSb superlattice (SL) cladding layers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ICL consists of a thin active core (200-300 nm) sandwiched between somewhat thicker GaSb separate-confinement layers, which are in turn enclosed by top (1-1.5 µm thick) and bottom (3-4 µm thick) InAs/AlSb superlattice (SL) cladding layers. The processed ICL ridge is then coated with a thick layer of electroplated Au and mounted epitaxial-side-down on a heat sink [3]. Thermal simulations indicate that in this scenario, the most significant thermal bottleneck is the cross-plane thermal conductivity of the InAs/AlSb SL comprising the top cladding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Thermal conductivity tensors of the cladding and active layers of antimonide infrared lasers and detectors

Zhou¹,

Vurgaftman²,

Canedy³

et al. 2013

Opt. Mater. Express

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The in-plane and cross-plane thermal conductivities of the cladding layers and active quantum wells of interband cascade lasers and type-II superlattice infrared detector are measured by the 2-wire 3ω method. The layers investigated include InAs/AlSb superlattice cladding layers, InAs/GaInSb/InAs/AlSb W-active quantum wells, an InAs/GaSb superlattice absorber, an InAs/GaSb/AlSb M-structure, and an AlAsSb digital alloy. The in-plane thermal conductivity of the InAs/AlSb superlattice is 4-5 times higher than the cross-plane value. The isotropic thermal conductivity of the AlAsSb digital alloy matches a theoretical expectation, but it is one order of magnitude lower than the only previously-reported experimental value.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Thermal conductivity tensors of the cladding and active layers of antimonide infrared lasers and detectors

Zhou¹,

Vurgaftman²,

Canedy³

et al. 2013

Opt. Mater. Express

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“…However, this approach is expensive and limited by rapidly increasing complexity. Another approach based on external cavity (EC) setups [10] is of limited use for industrial applications due to the lack of ruggedness, the rather large size and high cost of EC based setups. A monolithic solution that is compact, rugged and that provides high tuning speeds is given by a multi-segment laser device with aperiodic grating structures.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Monolithic single mode interband cascade lasers with wide wavelength tunability

Edlinger

Weih²,

Scheuermann

et al. 2016

Applied Physics Letters

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Monolithic two-section interband cascade lasers offering a wide wavelength tunability in the wavelength range around 3.7 µm are presented. Stable single mode emission in several wavelength channels was realized using the concept of binary superimposed gratings and two-segment Vernier-tuning. The wavelength selective elements in the two segments were based on specially designed lateral metal grating structures defined by electron beam lithography. A dual-step dry etch process provided electrical separation between the segments. Individual current control of the segments allowed wavelength channel selection as well as continuous wavelength tuning within channels. A discontinuous tuning range extending over 158 nm in up to six discrete wavelength channels was achieved. Mode hop free wavelength tuning up to 14 nm was observed within one channel. The devices can be operated in continuous wave mode up to 30 °C with output powers of 3.5 mW around room temperature.Interband cascade laser (ICL) technology has granted access to the mid-infrared wavelength region from 3 to 6 µm with low threshold powers [1-4], enabling for example novel high-speed, highsensitivity tunable laser absorption spectroscopy (TLAS) applications [5,6]. These require single mode laser emission, which can be achieved by a grating structure providing distributed feedback (DFB) [7,8]. The spectral bandwidth of sensors based on conventional DFB lasers is however limited by the current-induced tuning range of these devices, which is usually on the order of a few nanometers. Laser sources with increased tunability offer new possibilities for spectroscopic applications, for example the simultaneous detection of several gas species with a single sensor. An increased accessible spectral range also allows base line determination in the detection of molecules with broad absorption features, e.g. complex hydrocarbons. One way to achieve wider tunability is given by the use of a multiplexing schemes based on multiple individual DFB lasers at selected wavelengths [9]. However, this approach is expensive and limited by rapidly increasing complexity. Another approach based on external cavity (EC) setups [10] is of limited use for industrial applications due to the lack of ruggedness, the rather large size and high cost of EC based setups. A monolithic solution that is compact, rugged and that provides high tuning speeds is given by a multi-segment laser device with aperiodic grating structures. Several competitive approaches exist like sampled gratings [11,12] and binary superimposed gratings (BSGs) [13]. In this paper BSG structures were used because of the increased coupling strength compared to alternative solutions. In addition, BSG structures allow rather readily the selection of arbitrary combinations of wavelengths within the gain area. Corresponding designs with varying numbers of segments have been demonstrated at shorter emission wavelengths based on conventional diode laser gain media [14][15][16][17].

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“…Robust and efficient single spectral mode 3.27 µm diode lasers operating near room temperature (RT) in the continuouswave (CW) regime are required for methane TDLAS. Both distributed feedback (DFB) and external cavity single-frequency diode lasers operating in CW near RT near the methane absorption band have been reported, see for instance [1][2][3][4]. The available CW output power was limited to several milliwatts so far although higher values are often desirable for improved system sensitivity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Distributed feedback 3.27 µm diode lasers with continuous‐wave output power above 15 mW at room temperature

et al. 2014

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GaSb-based type-I quantum well laterally coupled distributed feedback diode lasers emitting in the methane absorption band near 3.27 µm were designed and fabricated. The first-order index grating with a period of 480 nm was defined by e-beam lithography and etched on both sides of 6 µm-wide shallow ridge waveguide. Coated 2 mmlong devices demonstrated stable continuous-wave single-frequency operation in a wide temperature range with an output power of 15 mW at +17°C and 40 mW at −20°C. The Bragg wavelength temperature tuning rate was ∼0.27 nm/K. Introduction: Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) is an effective approach for methane detection and monitoring. Methane sensing finds applications in industries ranging from oil production to planetary science. Robust and efficient single spectral mode 3.27 µm diode lasers operating near room temperature (RT) in the continuouswave (CW) regime are required for methane TDLAS. Both distributed feedback (DFB) and external cavity single-frequency diode lasers operating in CW near RT near the methane absorption band have been reported, see for instance [1][2][3][4]. The available CW output power was limited to several milliwatts so far although higher values are often desirable for improved system sensitivity.In this Letter, we report on the design and development of 3.27 µm emitting DFB lasers based on the efficiency of the diode laser heterostructure similar to the one reported in [5]. The devices demonstrate single-frequency operation in a wide temperature range with a CW output power level well above 15 mW. The lasers operated in the multimode CW regime below −30°C and above +20°C because of gain detuning from ∼3.27 µm DFB line.

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Performance characteristics of a continuous-wave compact widely tunable external cavity interband cascade lasers

Cited by 33 publications

References 4 publications

Thermal conductivity tensors of the cladding and active layers of antimonide infrared lasers and detectors

Thermal conductivity tensors of the cladding and active layers of antimonide infrared lasers and detectors

Monolithic single mode interband cascade lasers with wide wavelength tunability

Distributed feedback 3.27 µm diode lasers with continuous‐wave output power above 15 mW at room temperature

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