Abstract:

High-power quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) working in continuous wave (cw) above 400 K are presented. The material was grown by low-pressure metal organic vapor-phase epitaxy and processed into narrow buried heterostructure lasers. A cw output power of 204 mW was obtained at 300 K with an 8.38 mu m wavelength, 3 mm long and 7.5 mu m wide coated laser. The device operates in cw mode above 400 K, which exceeds the previous maximum cw temperature operation of QCLs by approximately 60 K. Preliminary reliability data obtained by accelerated aging tests indicate a remarkable robustness of the lasers. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.