Room temperature continuous-wave operation of quantum-cascade lasers grown by metal organic vapour phase epitaxy

Abstract
Quantum cascade lasers grown by metal organic vapuor phase epitaxy are demonstrated to work in continuous mode up to room temperature. The lasers have been processed as buried heterostructures with thick gold plating on the top contact. Continuous-wave output powers of 20 mW are obtained at 300 K with threshold current densities of 3.9 kA/cm2.