High-power, narrow-ridge, mid-infrared interband cascade lasers

Abstract: Five-stage interband cascade lasers grown by solid-source molecular-beam epitaxy were processed into ridges of varying width and electroplated with Au for improved epitaxial-side-up heat sinking. A 22-μm ridge emitted 264mW per facet cw at 80K (λ=3.4μm) and 100mW per facet at 200K (λ=3.6μm). A 12-μm ridge operated cw to a maximum temperature of 257K (λ=3.7μm). Beam qualities for the narrowest ridges approach the diffraction limit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]