Performance Comparison of Optically Pumped Type-II Mid-Infrared Lasers (Briefing Charts)
Abstract
We report a comparative study on the performance of three optically pumped type-II quantum well lasers with differing quantum well confinement. One of the active regions emphasized hole confinement another emphasized electron confinement while the third incorporated both electron and hole confinement. In all cases the wells were inserted in a thick In(x)Ga(1-x)As(y)Sb(1-y) waveguide/absorber region. The lasing wavelengths at 84 K were 2.26 um 3.44 um and 2.37 um respectively. The maximum peak output powers and differential quantum efficiencies Eta, at 84 K were similar for the hole well and W lasers (= 13 W, Eta =O.55) but significantly reduced in the electron well only laser (2.3 W, Eta = 0.14). Waveguide loss measurements via the traditional quantum efficiency vs cavity length method and by a Hakki-Paoli method revealed that all three lasers had low waveguide loss that either increased slowly or not at all with increasing temperature. However the laser's internal efficiency Etai, showed a linear decline with increasing temperature with the Etai, of the electron well only laser significantly less than the other two. The data suggests that for antimonide based type-ll designs, strong hole confinement is essential for improved performance. The data further suggest that it is hole leakage from the QW and/or hole dilution that is largely responsible for the degradation in laser performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 25, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA444697
Entities
People
- A. P. Ongstad
- D. M. Gianardi Jr.
- G. C. Dente
- J. R. Chavez
- M. L. Tilton
- R. Kaspi
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory