Interband cascade lasers for the mid-infrared spectral region

Abstract

Interband cascade lasers are mid-infrared semiconductor lasers that are very promising for low power consumption applications in the 3-6 μm spectral range. Therefore, they are ideal for gas sensing of hydrocarbons. Combining interband transitions utilized in diode lasers with a cascading scheme widely exploited in intersubband transition based quantum cascade lasers, interband cacscade lasers can operate at threshold current densities around or below 100 Acm-2 at room temperature. Distributed feedback interband cascade lasers emit at room temperature continuous wave output powers in the mW range and above, and their side mode suppression ratio can well exceed 20 dB.