Mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers with high wall plug efficiency

We demonstrate optimization of continuous wave (cw) operation of 4.6 μm quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). A 19.7 μm by 5 mm, double channel processed device exhibits 33% cw WPE at 80 K. Room temperature cw WPE as high as 12.5% is obtained from a 10.6 μm by 4.8 mm device, epilayer-down bonded on a diamond submount. With the semi-insulating regrowth in a buried ridge geometry, 15% WPE is obtained with 2.8 W total output power in cw mode at room temperature. This accomplishment is achieved by systematically decreasing the parasitic voltage drop, reducing the waveguide loss and improving the thermal management.