Room-temperature, high-power, and continuous-wave operation of distributed-feedback quantum-cascade lasers at λ～9.6 μm

摘要

High-power continuous-wave (cw) operation of distributed-feedback quantum-cascade lasers is reported. Continuous-wave output powers of 100 mW at 25℃ and 20 mW at 50℃ are obtained. The device exhibits a cw threshold current density of 1.34 kA/cm~2, a maximum cw wall-plug efficiency of 1% at 25℃, and a characteristic temperature of ～ 190 K in pulsed mode. Single-mode emission near 9.6 μm with a side-mode suppression ratio of ≥ 30 dB and a tuning range of 2.89 cm~(-1) from 15 to 50℃ is obtained.