Long wavelength infrared (lambda similar or equal to 11 mu m) quantum cascade lasers

AIInAs/GaInAs quantum cascade (QC) lasers operating at lambda=11.2 mu m wavelength are reported. In pulsed operation the peak power is in excess of 50 mW at 110 K heat sink temperature and the devices have been operated at temperatures as high as 200 K. Continuous were single-mode operation with powers similar or equal to 7 mW at 10 K has been achieved. This work, combined with our previous reports on QC lasers, demonstrates that these new light sources can be tailored, by suitable quantum design, over a wide wavelength range (4-11 mu m) using the same heterostructure material. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.