New Quantum Cascade Laser Design Provides Greater Efficiency and Power for Broad-Area Applications

Abstract

Researchers at the University of Central Florida have designed a compact, lightweight quantum cascade laser (QCL) that can maintain beam quality and protect against laser facet damage while achieving more than 30 watts of optical power from a single emitter. With such capabilities and continuous-wave (CW) optical power scalability, the new UCF design offers higher performance and efficiency for broad-area applications in the mid_wave and long_wave infrared (MWIR/LWIR) regions. For example, the invention?s unique combination of size, weight and power enables its use as an effective defensive countermeasure against shoulder_fired heat_seeking missiles and other weapons that use focal plane arrays to target and destroy aircraft.

Technical Details

The UCF invention comprises a broad_area QCL design for CW optical power scalability and a method of making the QCL, including details for specific device dimensions, configurations, energy specifications and materials. The new design provides for a larger active region depth and injector coupling than either single-phonon, double-phonon or non-resonant extraction designs. In contrast to the bound-to-continuum design, it uses a vertical laser transition. The design also includes a concept for laser packaging that protects against laser facet damage from heating. For example, using the new packaging concept, a device manufacturer could independently collect optical power emitted from two laser facets and then recombine the two beams using one of many possible beam-combining approaches, such as spatial beam combining (placing the two beams close to each other) and polarization beam combining.

In one example configuration, the QCL includes a substrate, a sequence of semiconductor epitaxial layers that define an active region, an injector region, and a waveguide that is optically coupled to the active region. The active region may include multiple stages, with each stage having an upper laser level and a lower laser level to defining respective first and second wave functions.

Partnering Opportunity

The research team is looking for partners to develop the technology further for commercialization.

Benefit

Market Application