Researchers from Princeton and Northwestern Universities have independently demonstrated, through different design strategies, mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers with wall-plug efficiencies reaching 50%. The result is a quantum cascade laser so efficient that it generates more light than heat, albeit at low temperatures of operation.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Faist, J. et al. Science 264, 553–556 (1994).
Liu, P. Q. et al. Nature Photon. 4, 95–98 (2010).
Bai, Y., Slivken, S., Kuboya, S., Darvish, S. R. & Razeghi, M. Nature Photon. 4, 99–102 (2010).
Liu, H. C. & Capasso, F. (eds) Intersubband Transition in Quantum Wells: Physics and Device Applications Vols 62 & 66 (Academic Press, 2000).
Helm, M., England, P., Colas, E., DeRosa, F. & Allen, S. J. Jr Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 74–77 (1989).
Khurgin, J. B. et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 091101 (2009).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, H. A glass half full. Nature Photon 4, 69–70 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.274
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.274