Quantum Cascade Lasers
Permanent staff: Adel Bousseksou (MCF-Paris Saclay) , Raffaele Colombelli (DR-CNRS)
PhDs: Laurent Boulley, Francois Joint, Pierre-Baptiste Vigneron, Claire Abadie
Quantum cascade lasers are based on inter-sub-band transition in semiconductor heterostructures. It covers a wide range of emission spectra in the Mid IR wavelength (3µm-20µm) and at THz frequencies (1THz-3THz). Our research activities in this field concerns the development of high performance exploring new approaches of active region design, new material and new optical cavity approaches. We are also the integration of QCLs in systems (detection or local oscillator…)
Focus on long IR QC lasers: Collaboration with IES Montpellier and MPQ Paris-Diderot
We demonstrate quantum cascade lasers in the InAs/AlSb material system operating at long Mid-IR wavelength λ=19-21 µm. The maximum operating temperature is above room temperature, with reasonable threshold current densities. The devices employ metal-metal waveguide geometries, which, at this wavelength are good compromise between waveguide losses and mode confinement. Both distributed feed-back and Fabry-Pérot cavities have been demonstrated.
Ref: "High temperature, single mode, long infrared (λ = 17.8 µm) InAs-based QC lasers", D. Chastanet, A. Bousseksou, F. Julien , G. Lollia, M. Bahriz, A.N. Baranov, R. Teissier, R. Colombelli, Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 111118 (2014).
Focus on InGaAs/AlInAs system: Collab (University of Leeds, IOFFE St Petersburg, C2N internal collaborator)
We are developing high performances QC lasers emitting high power, low threshold and high temperature operation. A quarter of watt operation at room temperature have been recently demonstrated at 8µm wavelength.
We are also exploring new approaches on QC lasers optical waveguide/cavities. We study the coupling of QC waveguide modes to nanostructured object or phase change materials in order to improve performance and integrate new functionalities in QC lasers.
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