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Room temperature quantum cascade lasers with 22% wall plug efficiency in continuous-wave operation
Optics Express
|July 19, 2020
Summary
Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) achieve record efficiency, with pulsed operation reaching 29.3% wall plug efficiency (WPE) and continuous-wave operation demonstrating 22% WPE at room temperature.
Area of Science:
- Semiconductor Physics
- Optoelectronics
- Laser Technology
Background:
- Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are semiconductor devices crucial for mid-infrared applications.
- Improving the efficiency and output power of QCLs is essential for advancing their technological utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate enhanced efficiency in quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) operating at 4.9 µm.
- To achieve high wall plug efficiency (WPE) in both pulsed and continuous-wave (CW) modes at room temperature.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an established QCL design, enhanced by simulation, to increase the number of emitting stages.
- Fabricated and packaged 5-mm-long, 8-µm-wide QCLs with a buried ridge waveguide structure.
Main Results:
- Achieved a peak WPE of 29.3% in pulsed operation at room temperature.
- Demonstrated 22% CW WPE and 5.6 W CW output power at room temperature.
- Reached an optical power density of ~35 MW/cm² at the output facet without damage.
Conclusions:
- The increased number of stages in QCLs significantly boosts efficiency.
- High-performance QCLs with excellent WPE and output power are achievable through optimized design and fabrication.
- These results pave the way for more powerful and efficient mid-infrared laser sources.
