Single Spatial-Mode Room-Temperature-Operated 3.0 to 3.4 micrometer Diode Lasers

Compact, highly efficient, 3.0 to 3.4 m light emitters are in demand for spectroscopic analysis and identification of chemical substances (including methane and formaldehyde), infrared countermeasures technologies, and development of advanced infrared scene projectors. The need for these light emitters can be currently addressed either by bulky solid-state light emitters with limited power conversion efficiency, or cooled Interband Cascade (IC) semiconductor lasers. Researchers here have developed a breakthrough approach to fabrication of diode mid-IR lasers that have several advantages over IC lasers used for the Mars 2009 mission. This breakthrough is due to a novel design utilizing the strain-engineered quantum-well (QW) active region and quinternary barriers, and due to optimization of device material composition and growth conditions (growth temperatures and rates). However, in their present form, these GaSb-based laser diodes cannot be directly used as a part of sensor systems. The device spectrum is too broad to perform spectroscopic analysis of gas species, and operating currents and voltages are too high. In the current work, the emitters were fabricated as narrow-ridge waveguide index-guided lasers rather than broad stripe-gain guided multimode Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers as was done previously. These narrow-ridge waveguide mid-IR lasers exhibit much lower power consumptions, and can operate in a single spatial mode that is necessary for demonstration of single-mode distributed feedback (DBF) devices for spectroscopic applications. These lasers will enable a new generation of compact, tunable diode laser spectrometers with lower power consumption, reduced complexity, and significantly reduced development costs. These lasers can be used for the detection of HCN, C2H2, methane, and ethane

Wavelength-tunable, GaSb-based, cascaded type-I quantum-well laser emitting over a range of 300 nm

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

Amplification of GaSb-Based Diode Lasers in an Erbium-Doped Fluoride Fibre Amplifier

Building upon recent advances in GaSb-based diode lasers and Er-doped fluoride fibre technologies, this article demonstrates for the first time the fibre-based amplification of mid-infrared diode lasers in the wavelength range around 2.78 $\mu$m. The laser setup consists of a GaSb-based diode laser and a single-stage Er-doped fibre amplifier. Amplification is investigated for continuous wave (CW) and ns-pulsed input signals, generated by gain-modulation of the GaSb-based seed lasers. The experimental results include the demonstration of output powers up to 0.9 W, pulse durations as short as 20 ns, and pulse repetition rates up to 1 MHz. Additionally, the amplification of commercial and custom-made GaSb-based seed lasers is compared and the impact of different fibre end-cap materials on laser performance is analysed

Cascade Type-I Quantum Well GaSb-Based Diode Lasers

Cascade pumping of type-I quantum well gain sections was utilized to increase output power and efficiency of GaSb-based diode lasers operating in a spectral region from 1.9 to 3.3 μm. Carrier recycling between quantum well gain stages was realized using band-to-band tunneling in GaSb/AlSb/InAs heterostructure complemented with optimized electron and hole injector regions. Coated devices with an ~100-μm-wide aperture and a 3-mm-long cavity demonstrated continuous wave (CW) output power of 1.96 W near 2 μm, 980 mW near 3 μm, 500 mW near 3.18 μm, and 360 mW near 3.25 μm at 17–20 °C—a nearly or more than twofold increase compared to previous state-of-the-art diode lasers. The utilization of the different quantum wells in the cascade laser heterostructure was demonstrated to yield wide gain lasers, as often desired for tunable laser spectroscopy. Double-step etching was utilized to minimize both the internal optical loss and the lateral current spreading penalties in narrow-ridge lasers. Narrow-ridge cascade diode lasers operate in a CW regime with ~100 mW of output power near and above 3 μm and above 150 mW near 2 μm

Introduction to the JSTQE special issue on semiconductor lasers

The papers in this special issue highlights the recent progress, challenges and trends in research on semiconductor lasers and innovative semiconductor laser technology development. The combination of invited and contributed papers offers a unique perspective on the state-of-the art in this important field of endeavor. This issue contains 75 papers, including 13 invited papers authored by highly-regarded research groups and promising scientists from all over the world

Introduction to the JSTQE special issue on semiconductor lasers

The papers in this special issue highlights the recent progress, challenges and trends in research on semiconductor lasers and innovative semiconductor laser technology development. The combination of invited and contributed papers offers a unique perspective on the state-of-the art in this important field of endeavor. This issue contains 75 papers, including 13 invited papers authored by highly-regarded research groups and promising scientists from all over the world

Cascade Type-I Quantum Well GaSb-Based Diode Lasers

Cascade pumping of type-I quantum well gain sections was utilized to increase output power and efficiency of GaSb-based diode lasers operating in a spectral region from 1.9 to 3.3 μm. Carrier recycling between quantum well gain stages was realized using band-to-band tunneling in GaSb/AlSb/InAs heterostructure complemented with optimized electron and hole injector regions. Coated devices with an ~100-μm-wide aperture and a 3-mm-long cavity demonstrated continuous wave (CW) output power of 1.96 W near 2 μm, 980 mW near 3 μm, 500 mW near 3.18 μm, and 360 mW near 3.25 μm at 17–20 °C—a nearly or more than twofold increase compared to previous state-of-the-art diode lasers. The utilization of the different quantum wells in the cascade laser heterostructure was demonstrated to yield wide gain lasers, as often desired for tunable laser spectroscopy. Double-step etching was utilized to minimize both the internal optical loss and the lateral current spreading penalties in narrow-ridge lasers. Narrow-ridge cascade diode lasers operate in a CW regime with ~100 mW of output power near and above 3 μm and above 150 mW near 2 μm

Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Diode Lasers with λ near 2 µm

Epitaxially regrown electrically pumped photonic crystal surface emitting lasers (PCSELs) operating near 2 µm were designed and fabricated within a III-V-Sb material system. A high-index-contrast photonic crystal layer was incorporated into the laser heterostructures by air-pocket-retaining epitaxial regrowth. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed uniform and continuous AlGaAsSb initial growth over the nano-patterned GaSb surface, followed by the development of the air-pockets. The PCSEL threshold current density had a minimal value of ~170 A/cm2 in the 160–180 K temperature range when the QW gain spectrum aligned with the Γ2 band edge of the photonic crystal. The devices operated in a continuous wave regime at 160 K. The divergence and polarization of the multimode laser beam emitted from the 200 µm × 200 µm PCSEL aperture were controlled by filamentation

Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Diode Lasers with λ near 2 µm

Epitaxially regrown electrically pumped photonic crystal surface emitting lasers (PCSELs) operating near 2 µm were designed and fabricated within a III-V-Sb material system. A high-index-contrast photonic crystal layer was incorporated into the laser heterostructures by air-pocket-retaining epitaxial regrowth. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed uniform and continuous AlGaAsSb initial growth over the nano-patterned GaSb surface, followed by the development of the air-pockets. The PCSEL threshold current density had a minimal value of ~170 A/cm2 in the 160–180 K temperature range when the QW gain spectrum aligned with the Γ2 band edge of the photonic crystal. The devices operated in a continuous wave regime at 160 K. The divergence and polarization of the multimode laser beam emitted from the 200 µm × 200 µm PCSEL aperture were controlled by filamentation