Temperature effects in terahertz step well quantum cascade structures with diagonal optical transitions

Temperature effects in terahertz (THz) step well quantum cascade (QC) structures are investigated. Step well QC structures with diagonal optical transitions that use fast intrawell electron-longitudinal optical (LO) phonon scattering for depopulation are considered. A density matrix method is used to model the electron transport coherence and is incorporated into the Monte Carlo simulations of these structures. A phenomenological dephasing time is also included. The influence of the lattice temperature on the population inversion is modeled and the effects due to gain spectral broadening are also considered. Optical gain greater than typical waveguide resonator thresholds are estimated out to T ~ 200 K.

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