High cw output power in stripe-geometry PbS diode lasers

Abstract
Stripe‐geometry PbS diode lasers have been developed with cw output powers of about 1/3 W in the 4.3‐μm wavelength region. A maximum cw output power in a single longitudinal mode of about 50 mW, over‐all external quantum efficiencies as high as 27%, and incremental internal quantum efficiencies near 60% have been observed. The improved performance has been achieved through a number of significant developments in device technology.