X-valley leakage in GaAs-based midinfrared quantum cascade lasers: A Monte Carlo study

A Monte Carlo simulation of the electron transport incorporating the T-, as well as the X-valley states in various GaAs-based midinfrared quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) is presented. The analysis shows that the leakage current of the QCLs at the room temperature is extremely high, as the value of the leakage current highly depends on the temperature, as well as the occupation of the X-valley subbands.