High power interband cascade lasers and arrays for free space communication
Abstract
Infrared, and in particular the range between 2 and 10 microm, is of interest for many applications in the fields of defence, surgery and spectroscopy. Some of these applications require lasers with output powers greater than 1 W that can operate continuously at ambient temperature. In the range between 2 and 3 microm, high-power laser diodes on GaSb substrates (1) are already able to achieve these powers, while for wavelengths above 4.5 microm, these powers are achieved using quantum cascade lasers on InP substrates (2). However, between 3 and 4.5 microm, the most efficient technology is based on interband cascade (ICL) structures fabricated on GaSb substrates. This technology allows lasers to operate continuously at temperatures above 100 degrees C with a low threshold, but despite this excellent performance, the maximum power measured is less than 1 W (3). This power limitation can be largely explained by two limiting factors- - The use of optical confinement layers, which are not suitable for high power constraints due to their high thermal resistance. - A technology that uses etching to define the width of the laser and confine the current to the active area, which limits heat dissipation. The ambitious objectives of this project will therefore be to propose alternative and innovative materials for these components, combined with new technological approaches to improve heat dissipation. This innovative technology used in ICLs will make possible to achieve optical powers higher than 1 W, initially with a single component and then to develop arrays of ICLs to achieve greater total optical power. This project will be led by the University of Montpellier (France), which is a specialist in the design and manufacture of mid-infrared emitting antimony-based optoelectronic components and intends to develop its work on power lasers in this wavelength range. These studies will be carried out in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate for the development of high-power laser for USAF applications. In addition, this project is directly linked to another project, led by Telecom Paris (France), to investigate the properties of these high power ICLs and arrays for free space communication.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 05, 2025
- Source ID
- FA86552417056
Entities
People
- Frédéric Grillot
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Institut Mines-Télécom
- United States Air Force