Improved performance of quantum cascade lasers through a scalable, manufacturable epitaxial-side-down mounting process
- *Pranalytica, Inc., 1101 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401;
- †Center for Quantum Devices, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208; and
- ‡Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
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Contributed by C. Kumar N. Patel, February 1, 2006
Abstract
We report substantially improved performance of high-power quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) by using epitaxial-side-down mounting that provides superior heat dissipation properties. We used aluminum nitride as the heatsink material and gold–tin eutectic solder. We have obtained continuous wave power output of 450 mW at 20°C from mid-IR QCLs. The improved thermal management achieved with epitaxial-side-down mounting combined with a highly manufacturable and scalable assembly process should permit incorporation of mid-IR QCLs in reliable instrumentation.
Footnotes
- §To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: patel{at}pranalytica.com
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Author contributions: A.T., M.P., and C.K.N.P. designed research; A.T., R.G., and C.K.N.P. performed research; M.R. grew the semiconductor materials used in these studies; A.T., M.P., and C.K.N.P. analyzed data; and A.T., M.P., and C.K.N.P. wrote the paper.
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Conflict of interest statement: No conflicts declared.
- Abbreviations:
- CTE,
- coefficient of thermal expansion;
- CW,
- continuous wave;
- epi-down,
- epitaxial-side-down;
- epi-up,
- epitaxial-side-up;
- QCL,
- quantum cascade laser;
- RT,
- room temperature;
- TEC,
- thermoelectric cooler.
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Freely available online through the PNAS open access option.
- © 2006 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA
