Surface-plasmon quantum cascade microlasers with highly deformed resonators

R. Colombelli, Claire F. Gmachl, A. M. Sergent, D. L. Sivco, Evgenii E. Narimanov, Viktor A. Podolskiy, A. Y. Cho, F. Capasso

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the demonstration of surface-plasmon microcylinder quantum cascade lasers with circular and deformed resonators. An improved self-alignment fabrication technique was developed that allows the use of wet etching, necessary to achieve smooth and clean surfaces, in combination with the deposition of the surface-plasmon-carrying metal layer up to the very edge of the resonator, where the optical mode is mostly located. The diameter of the microcylinders ranges from 75 to 180 μm while their deformation coefficient e ranges from ε = 0 to ε = 0.32. Circular microcylinder lasers show a reduction of ∼50% of the threshold current density with respect to devices with standard ridge-waveguide resonators. On the other hand, highly deformed microcylinder lasers exhibit a complex mode structure, suggesting the onset of chaotic behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)66-70
Number of pages5
JournalIEEE Journal on Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • Microdisk lasers
  • Microlasers
  • Midinfrared
  • Unipolar devices

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