Fabrication methods for a quantum cascade photonic crystal surface emitting laser

Conventional quantum cascade (QC) lasers are intrinsically edge-emitting devices with mode confinement achieved via a standard mesa stripe configuration. Surface emission in edge emitting QC lasers has therefore necessitated redirecting the waveguided laser emission using a second order grating. This paper describes the methods used to fabricate a 2D photonic crystal (PC) structure with or without a central defect superimposed on an electrically pumped QC laser structure with the goal of achieving direct surface emission. A successful systematic study of PC hole radius and spacing was performed using e-beam lithography. This PC method offers the promise of a number of interesting applications, including miniaturization and integration of QC lasers

Transport and percolation in a low-density high-mobility two-dimensional hole system

We present a study of the temperature and density dependence of the resistivity of an extremely high quality two-dimensional hole system grown on the (100) surface of GaAs. For high densities in the metallic regime (p\agt 4 \times 10^{9} cm$^{-2}$), the nonmonotonic temperature dependence ($\sim 50-300$ mK) of the resistivity is consistent with temperature dependent screening of residual impurities. At a fixed temperature of $T$= 50 mK, the conductivity vs. density data indicates an inhomogeneity driven percolation-type transition to an insulating state at a critical density of $3.8\times 10^9$ cm$^{-2}$.Comment: accepted for publication in PR

Fabrication technologies for quantum cascade photonic-crystal microlasers

In this paper we describe the technological and fabrication methods necessary to incorporate both photonic and electronic-band engineering in order to create novel surface-emitting quantum cascade microcavity laser sources. This technology offers the promise of several innovative applications such as the miniaturization of QC lasers, and multi-wavelength two-dimensional laser arrays for spectroscopy, gas-sensing and imaging. This approach is not limited to light-emitting devices, and may be efficiently applied to the development of mid- and far-infrared normal-incidence detectors

Quantum cascade photonic crystal surface emitting injection laser

A surface emitting quantum cascade injection laser is presented. Direct surface emission is obtained by using a 2D photonic-band-gap structure that simultaneously acts as a microcavity. The approach may allow miniaturization and on-chip-integration of the devices

Bias-Dependent Generation and Quenching of Defects in Pentacene

We describe a defect in pentacene single crystals that is created by bias stress and persists at room temperature for an hour in the dark but only seconds with 420nm illumination. The defect gives rise to a hole trap at Ev + 0.38eV and causes metastable transport effects at room temperature. Creation and decay rates of the hole trap have a 0.67eV activation energy with a small (108 s-1) prefactor, suggesting that atomic motion plays a key role in the generation and quenching process.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Acoustic phonon scattering in a low density, high mobility AlGaN/GaN field effect transistor

We report on the temperature dependence of the mobility, $\mu$, of the two-dimensional electron gas in a variable density AlGaN/GaN field effect transistor, with carrier densities ranging from 0.4$\times10^{12}$ cm$^{-2}$ to 3.0$\times10^{12}$ cm$^{-2}$ and a peak mobility of 80,000 cm$^{2}$/Vs. Between 20 K and 50 K we observe a linear dependence $\mu_{ac}^{-1} = \alpha$T indicating that acoustic phonon scattering dominates the temperature dependence of the mobility, with $\alpha$ being a monotonically increasing function of decreasing 2D electron density. This behavior is contrary to predictions of scattering in a degenerate electron gas, but consistent with calculations which account for thermal broadening and the temperature dependence of the electron screening. Our data imply a deformation potential D = 12-15 eV.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, RevTeX. Submitted to Appl Phys Let

Impact of spin-orbit coupling on quantum Hall nematic phases

Anisotropic charge transport is observed in a two-dimensional (2D) hole system in a perpendicular magnetic field at filling factors nu=7/2, nu=11/2, and nu=13/2 at low temperature. In stark contrast, the transport at nu=9/2 is isotropic for all temperatures. Isotropic hole transport at nu=7/2 is restored for sufficiently low 2D densities or an asymmetric confining potential. The density and symmetry dependences of the observed anisotropies suggest that strong spin-orbit coupling in the hole system contributes to the unusual transport behavior.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Lasing mode pattern of a quantum cascade photonic crystal surface-emitting microcavity laser

The identification of the lasing mode within a quantum cascade photonic crystal microcavity laser emitting at λ ~8 µm is presented. The symmetry of the lasing mode is determined by the position of nodal lines within micro-bolometer camera measurements of its polarized spatial distribution. Full three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations are also performed, and the resulting vertically emitted radiation field pattern is seen to follow the experimental results closely

Reversible protein precipitation to ensure stability during encapsulation within PLGA microspheres

Proteins were precipitated to ensure their stability upon subsequent encapsulation within PLGA microspheres. Spherical, nanosized protein particles were formed by the addition of a salt (sodium chloride) and a water-miscible organic solvent (glycofurol) to protein solutions. Various process parameters were modified to optimize the precipitation efficiency of four model proteins: lysozyme, alpha-chymotrypsin, peroxidase and beta-galactosidase. As monitored by enzymatic activity measurement of the rehydrated particles, conditions to obtain more than 95% of reversible precipitates were defined for each protein. The study of the structure of the rehydrated particles by absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism showed an absence of structural-perturbation after precipitation. Protein particles were then microencapsulated within PLGA microspheres using s/o/w technique. The average encapsulation yield was around 80% and no loss of protein activity occurred after the encapsulation step. Additionally, a lysozyme in vitro release study showed that all of the released lysozyme was biologically active. This method of protein precipitation is appropriate for the encapsulation in PLGA microspheres of various proteins without inactivation