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Room-Temperature Quantum Cascade Laser: ZnO/Zn1−x Mg x O Versus GaN/Al x Ga1−x N

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Abstract

A ZnO/Zn1−x Mg x O-based quantum cascade laser (QCL) is proposed as a candidate for generation of THz radiation at room temperature. The structural and material properties, field dependence of the THz lasing frequency, and generated power are reported for a resonant phonon ZnO/Zn0.95Mg0.05O QCL emitting at 5.27 THz. The theoretical results are compared with those from GaN/Al x Ga1−x N QCLs of similar geometry. Higher calculated optical output powers [\( {P}_{\rm{ZnMgO}} \) = 2.89 mW (nonpolar) at 5.27 THz and 2.75 mW (polar) at 4.93 THz] are obtained with the ZnO/Zn0.95Mg0.05O structure as compared with GaN/Al0.05Ga0.95N QCLs [\( {P}_{\rm{AlGaN}} \) = 2.37 mW (nonpolar) at 4.67 THz and 2.29 mW (polar) at 4.52 THz]. Furthermore, a higher wall-plug efficiency (WPE) is obtained for ZnO/ZnMgO QCLs [24.61% (nonpolar) and 23.12% (polar)] when compared with GaN/AlGaN structures [14.11% (nonpolar) and 13.87% (polar)]. These results show that ZnO/ZnMgO material is optimally suited for THz QCLs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269-2157, USA

    Hung Chi Chou, Anas Mazady & Mehdi Anwar

  2. Magnolia Optical Technologies, 52B Cummings Park, Suite 314, Woburn, MA, 01801, USA

    John Zeller

  3. Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), Newport, RI, 02841-1708, USA

    Tariq Manzur

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  1. Hung Chi Chou
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  2. Anas Mazady
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  4. Tariq Manzur
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  5. Mehdi Anwar
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Correspondence to Mehdi Anwar.

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Chou, H.C., Mazady, A., Zeller, J. et al. Room-Temperature Quantum Cascade Laser: ZnO/Zn1−x Mg x O Versus GaN/Al x Ga1−x N. J. Electron. Mater. 42, 882–888 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-013-2548-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-013-2548-5

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