Mid-IR distributed-feedback interband cascade lasers

C. S. Kim; M. Kim; J. Abell; W. W. Bewley; C. D. Merritt; C. L. Canedy; I. Vurgaftman; J. R. Meyer

doi:10.1117/12.2004163

4 February 2013 Mid-IR distributed-feedback interband cascade lasers

C. S. Kim, M. Kim, J. Abell, W. W. Bewley, C. D. Merritt, C. L. Canedy, I. Vurgaftman, J. R. Meyer

Proceedings Volume 8631, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices X; 86311O (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004163
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We discuss two distinct approaches to realizing distributed-feedback (DFB) interband cascade lasers (ICLs) for emission in the mid-IR. In the top-grating approach, the first-order gratings are produced by patterning high-index germanium layers on top of narrow ridges with relatively thin top claddings. One 7-μm-wide device emitting at λ = 3.8 μm generated over 27 mW of cw single-mode output at 40°C, with a side-mode-suppression ratio <30 dB, while at 80°C it still emitted <1 mW. At 20°C, a second device lased in a single spectral mode with <100 mW of drive power. The tuning range was 21.5 nm with temperature and 10 nm with current. The corrugated-sidewall approach relies on a fourth-order grating defined by optical lithography and etched into the sidewalls of the laser ridge. For a 13-μm-wide ICL ridge emitting at λ = 3.6 μm, the maximum power at T = 25°C was 55 mW, and at 40°C the device still produced 11 mW. We compare the physical requirements and performance characteristics for the two DFB classes and conclude that top-grating DFBs generally exhibit greater stability and reproducibility, although the efficiency is reduced by extra loss induced by modal overlap with the top metallization.

Citation Download Citation

C. S. Kim, M. Kim, J. Abell, W. W. Bewley, C. D. Merritt, C. L. Canedy, I. Vurgaftman, and J. R. Meyer "Mid-IR distributed-feedback interband cascade lasers", Proc. SPIE 8631, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices X, 86311O (4 February 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004163

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