Process to Mitigate Catastrophic Optical Damage to Quantum Cascade Lasers

Quantum cascade laser (QCL) applications have increased in wide variety of areas such as remote sensing, chemical sensing, and free space communications. In this Phase I STTR, the focus is on the development of high-power Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) with integrated heat sinks for improved output power, power-conversion efficiency, and long-term reliability. This will be accomplished by the development of an epitaxial liftoff (ELO) process for QCL on InP substrates. Focus will be placed on separating epitaxially grown QCL high-power devices from the original substrate and transferring them onto high-thermal-conductivity substrates. This technology will provide high efficiency, improved reliability, and will enable CW-power operation at >3W.The process is expected to increase the output power threshold for Catastrophic Mirror Damage (CMD) to 20 MW/cm2 at the facets of the QCL . MicroLink will develop ELO process for QCL lasers to reduce the operating temperature of the devices by a factor of 2, which will reduce the CMD.