Intrinsic linewidths of quantum-cascade lasers are found to be extremely narrow, ~100 Hz. However, the free running
linewidths (usually ~1 MHz) of existing quantum-cascade lasers are governed by flicker frequency-noise that is
identified to originate from electrical flicker-noise in the devices. Obviously, substantial suppression of the electrical
flicker noise is required for substantial narrowing of free-running LWs. In this presentation, we show systematic
experimental results of flicker voltage-noise power-spectral density obtained with mid-infrared quantum-cascade lasers
of designed positioning of impurities in injectors. The measured noise-levels depending strongly on impurity position as
well as device-temperature are evaluated with an ad hoc model based on fluctuating charge-dipoles induced by trapping
and de-trapping at impurity states in their injectors. It is shown that quasi-delta doping of impurities leads to strong
suppression of electrical flicker noise by minimization of the dipole-length at a certain temperature, for instance ~300 K
and, in turn, is expected to narrow astonishingly the free-running line-width down below 10 kHz without assistances of
any types of feedback schemes.
Quantum cascade (QC) lasers are promising light sources for many chemical sensing applications in the mid-infrared
spectral range. For industrial applications, broadband wavelength tuning of external-cavity QC lasers with very broad
gain-width has been demonstrated. QC lasers based on anti-crossed dual-upper-state (DAU) designs are one of the
promising candidates because of its broad bandwidth as well as high device performances. In fact, wide wavelength
tuning of external cavity QC lasers with the anti-crossed DAU designs has been exhibited in several wavelengths: the
tuning range of ~25% in pulsed mode and <17% in cw mode at room temperature. Here we report conspicuous
temperature performances of continuous wave quantum cascade lasers with broad gain bandwidths. The lasers with the
anti-crossed DAU designs, characterized by strong super-linear current-light output curves, exhibit the extremely high
characteristic temperature for threshold current density, T0~750 K above room temperature. In addition, its slope
efficiency is growing with increasing temperature (negative T1-value). For the pulsed operation of a short 1 mm length
laser, the temperature coefficient reaches the surprisingly high value of 1085 K over 340-380 K temperature range. The
distinctive characteristics of the DAU lasers are attributable to the optical absorption quenching which has been clarified
to take place in indirect pumped QC lasers. Such high characteristic temperatures of the DAU-QC lasers provide great
advantages for practical applications, in addition to its potential of broadband tuning.
A wide wavelength tuning of an external cavity quantum-cascade (QC) laser based on the anticrossed dual-upper-state to
multiple-lower-state design is demonstrated in continuous wave (cw) operation at room temperature. The tuning ranges
of 321 cm-1 (Δλ/λ~22%) in pulsed operation and 248 cm-1 (Δλ/λ~17%) in cw operation are achieved, despite
employment of the active region with translational symmetry. The present tuning range in cw operation substantially
exceeds the values obtained with the QC lasers based on conventional broadband active region designs. In addition, the
continuous, single mode tuning is realized with its widely homogeneous gain spectrum.
We report a high performance operation of quantum cascade lasers based on Single Phonon-Continuum depopulation
(SPC) structures. The lasers exhibit low CW threshold current densities and high characteristic temperatures in the wide
wavelength range between 4.5 and 10.8 μm. An 8.2 μm laser, despite a bare ridge structure which is extremely simple
configuration without any intentional thermal dissipation equipments and any HR coatings, demonstrates the high device
performance: a low threshold current density of 1.66 kA/cm2 and a high maximum output power of 76 mW (from one
facet) at room temperature in CW operation. Our shortest wavelength 4.5 μm laser with HR coating reveals a low
threshold current density of 1.7 kA/cm2 and maximum output power of 161 mW at room temperature in CW operation.
For long wavelength, we present the first room temperature, CW operation of DFB QCL with top grating. The DFB laser
emits ~9.6 μm single mode spectra at temperatures between -5 °C and 50 °C. The wide tuning range is obtained to be
from 1031 to 1039 cm-1.
We report the observation of exciton blue shift in a DC- biased GaAS single quantum well with off-resonant pumping which is distinguished from the ac Stark shift by polarization selective pump probe spectroscopy with small detuning condition. This blue shift is interpreted as a result of internal field screening by virtual excitons.
A quantum mechanical manipulation of electron- and photon systems was realized in a semiconductor system, and thereby we systematically studied controllable excitonic spontaneous emission through the continuous tuning of the emission wavelength by quantum confined Stark effect in a GaAs single quantum well sandwiched between pairs of AlAs/AlGaAs distributed Bragg reflectors. Device-applications of this phenomenon are also discussed.
PQV0 klflds of optical nonlinearity caused by real and virtual charge polarizations in quantum well structures are discussed
with some comments on their uses in practical devices. By internal field screening due to photo-excited real charge
polarization, a positive feedback is established at a relatively low optical power level (-4W/cm2), in a device form without
series resistors and optical resonators at room temperature. The feedback mechanism is illustrated based on experimental data.
An extremely fast modulation of optical properties, which is free from the CR time constant and from carrier life time
limitation, would be obtained by internal field screening due to virtual charge polarization. The theoretical considerations and
implications for the ultrafast modulation are shown, and an electro-static ultrafast switch of quantum interference current
through the virtual charge polarization is discussed. An ultrafast response phenomenon based on the virtual transitions is
observed by an off-resonant pump light, with time-resolved optical pulse mixing technique for the measurement of
photocurrent signals, supporting the ultrafast switching capability of the proposed modulation scheme.
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