Design and Simulation of a Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Laser Based on Ge-Si Superlattices

Abstract:

This paper presents a novel valance intersubband laser based on Si-based Si-Ge superlattices grown on a relaxed Si0.5Ge0.5 buffer layer. Effective mass theory is used to calculate the inplane valence subband dispersion of Si-Ge superlattices within 6×6 Kane model. Analysis of the inplane energy dispersion shows that the light-hole effective mass is inverted at off zone center region. The laser structure can be designed with a simple quantum cascade scheme. Our calculation shows that with the electrical pump, it is possible to achieve population inversion between the two subbands at local k space where the light-hole effective mass is inverted. Optical gain of the order 100/cm can be achieved with a pumping current density 10 kA/cm2.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volumes 121-123)
• Pages: 677-680
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.121-123.677
• Online since: March 2007
• Authors: Yan Wu Lu, Gregory Sun
• Keywords: Effective Mass Theory, Ge-Si Superlattice, Quantum Cascade Laser

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