Gain, loss, and internal efficiency in interband cascade lasers emitting at λ=3.6–4.1μm

We employ a cavity-length study to determine the temperature variation of the internal loss and gain per unit current density in a ten-stage interband cascade laser that operated cw up to 269K with an emission wavelength of 4.05μm. The characteristic temperature for the gain per unit current density is 39K, which is slightly lower than T0 of the threshold current and is consistent with dominance by Auger recombination. The internal loss for the 150-μm-wide mesa devices increased from 11cm−1 at 78Kto28cm−1 at 275K.

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