Heterostructures of Single-Wavelength and Dual-Wavelength Quantum-Cascade Lasers

Abstract

The results of development of the basic structure and technological conditions of growing heterostructures for single- and dual-frequency quantum-cascade lasers are reported. The heterostructure for a dual-frequency quantum-cascade laser includes cascades emitting at wavelengths of 9.6 and 7.6 μm. On the basis of the suggested heterostructure, it is possible to develop a quantum-cascade laser operating at a difference frequency of 8 THz. The heterostructures for the quantum-cascade laser are grown using molecularbeam epitaxy. The methods of X-ray diffraction and emission electron microscopy are used to study the structural properties of the fabricated heterostructures. Good agreement between the specified and realized thicknesses of the epitaxial layers and a high uniformity of the chemical composition and thicknesses of the epitaxial layers over the area of the heterostructure is demonstrated. A stripe-structured quantum-cascade laser is fabricated; its generation at a wavelength of 9.6 μm is demonstrated.