The progress towards terahertz quantum cascade lasers on silicon substrates
✍ Scribed by D.J. Paul
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2010
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 654 KB
- Volume
- 4
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1863-8880
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
A review is presented of work over the last 10 years which has been aimed at trying to produce a Si‐based THz quantum cascade laser. Potential THz applications and present THz sources will be briefly discussed before the materials issues with the Si/SiGe system is discussed. Waveguide designs and waveguide losses will be presented. Experimental measurements of the non‐radiative lifetimes for intersubband transitions in Si~1‐x~Ge~x~ quantum wells will be presented along with theory explaining the important scattering mechanisms which determine the lifetimes. Examples of p‐type Si/SiGe quantum cascade designs with the experimental electroluminescence will be reviewed and examples of n‐type Si‐based designs will be presented. In the conclusion designs and structures will be discussed with the greatest potential to achieve an electrically pumped Si‐based THz laser.