Abstract

Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) have shown to be reliable, convenient and powerful sources in the midinfrared range. In order to address some new applications such as countermeasure or non invasive surgery higher output powers are required as well as good beam quality. The record power is 5.1W[1] in continuous mode (CW) with 8µm wide lasers and 120W in pulsed mode for 400μm wide lasers[2]. Device heating and degradation of the M² factor limits the increase of the device width, and as a consequence the output power. Buried µ-Stripes QCLs arrays have shown to be an appealing innovative way to circumvent both the optical and thermal issues[3–4]. Evanescent coupling between the stripes allows to lase on a stable supermode whereas the heat is efficiently laterally dissipated. Latest progress towards high-power room temperature CW devices will be detailled.

© 2015 IEEE