Wavelength-Tunable, GaSb-Based, Cascaded Type-I Quantum-Well Laser Emitting Over a Range of 300 nm

Abstract

We present a wavelength-tunable, external-cavity GaSb-based quantum-well laser operating near 3.2 µm. The laser setup consists of an intra-cavity grating in Littman-Metcalf configuration and a cascade pumped GaSb-based gain chip with a narrow-ridge waveguide. The narrow-ridge waveguide has a length of 2 mm and width of 7.5 µm. Cascade pumping is realized with three type-I quantum-wells, using one quantum-well per cascade stage. The laser provides continuous-wave output powers up to 8 mW and slope-efficiencies of 13 % at room temperature. Laser operation is demonstrated over a wavelength range of more than 300 nm, using continuous-wave and pulsed operation regimes.

The Interband Cascade Laser

“…With Brookhaven National Lab, SUNY demonstrated an external cavity type-I ICL that tuned continuously over 200 nm, from 3.05 µm to 3.25, with cw power > 1 mW over the entire range and SMSR = 25 dB [135]. They later demonstrated an external cavity laser with Aston University that tuned over 300 nm around a center wavelength ≈3.2 µm, with cw output power up to 8 mW [136].…”

Wavelength-Tuning of Nanosecond Pulses in Er-Doped Fluoride Fibre Amplifier

“…Further research must focus on the suppression of self-lasing in the fibre section to allow for higher amplifier gain values and wider wavelength-tunability. Promising applications include the combination of broadband Er-doped fluoride fibre amplifiers with compact wavelength-tunable semiconductor laser devices in the MIR [24].…”

Advances in wide-tuning and narrow-linewidth external-cavity diode lasers

“…This type of structure still has limitations such as large system size, high level of difficulty in the installation and adjustment of the optical path, susceptibility to external light noise, and higher loss than the Littrow-ECDL. Currently, researchers at Central China Normal University [66], Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain [67], Aston University in England [68], and Sacher Lasertechnik in Germany [69], among other institutions [70][71][72] have conducted Littman-ECDL research.…”

“…This improved design achieved remarkable results in singlemode tuning and output-power enhancement [72]. In 2018, Chichkov et al [68] from Aston University in England realized a 3.2-µm wavelength-tunable, GaSb-Based, cascaded type-I quantum-well laser. This scheme adopts an improved Littman-Metcalf structure.…”