Letter abstract
Nature Photonics 3, 41 - 45 (2008)
Published online: 14 December 2008 | doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.251
Subject Categories: Lasers, LEDs and light sources | Terahertz optics
Magnetic-field-assisted terahertz quantum cascade laser operating up to 225 K
A. Wade1, G. Fedorov1, D. Smirnov1, S. Kumar2, B. S. Williams2,3, Q. Hu2 & J. L. Reno4
Abstract
Advances in semiconductor bandgap engineering have resulted in the recent development of the terahertz quantum cascade laser1. These compact optoelectronic devices now operate in the frequency range 1.2–5 THz, although cryogenic cooling is still required2, 3. Further progress towards the realization of devices operating at higher temperatures and emitting at longer wavelengths (sub-terahertz quantum cascade lasers) is difficult because it requires maintaining a population inversion between closely spaced electronic sub-bands (1 THz 
4 meV). Here, we demonstrate a magnetic-field-assisted quantum cascade laser based on the resonant-phonon design. By applying appropriate electrical bias and strong magnetic fields above 16 T, it is possible to achieve laser emission from a single device over a wide range of frequencies (0.68–3.33 THz). Owing to the suppression of inter-Landau-level non-radiative scattering, the device shows magnetic field assisted laser action at 1 THz at temperatures up to 215 K, and 3 THz lasing up to 225 K.
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, USA
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Sandia National Laboratories, Department 1123, MS 0601, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-0601, USA
Correspondence to: D. Smirnov1 e-mail: smirnov@magnet.fsu.edu
