High-performance quantum cascade lasers with wide electroluminescence (∼600 cm−1), operating in continuous-wave above 100 °C

The authors report high temperature continuous-wave (cw) operations of broad-gain quantum cascade lasers based on the anticrossed dual-upper-state to multiple-lower-state design. The devices exhibit extremely wide electroluminescence (>600 cm−1) and subthreshold amplified spontaneous emission (∼570 cm−1) spectra at room temperature. Despite showing such broad electroluminescence spectra, the high-reflection coated, buried heterostructure lasers operating at 6.8 μm demonstrate a low threshold current density of ∼1.5 kA/cm2 and a high power of >500 mW with a high slope efficiency of ∼1.6 W/A in cw mode at 300 K. The maximum cw operating temperature of above 100 °C is achieved.