High temperature (T≥425 K) pulsed operation of quantum cascade lasers

Optimized quantum cascade (QC) lasers function in pulsed mode up to 425 K heatsink temperature were demonstrated, where they display approximately 20 mW of peak output power at a wavelength of approximately 8.4 μm. Laser characterization at these temperatures was performed using a room temperature HgCdTe photovoltaic detector, thus demonstrating an entirely uncooled emitter-detector system. For the high temperature operation, a mature, so-called `three-well vertical transition active region' QC laser design, using InGaAs/AlInAs multiquantum wells grown lattice matched to InP by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) was chosen.