Comparison of THz-QCL Designs Supporting Clean N-Level Systems

Three different Terahertz quantum-cascade-laser designs supporting clean n-level systems were analyzed using nonequilibrium Green's functions. In clean n-level systems, most of the electrons occupy the active laser levels, with thermally activated leakage channels being suppressed almost entirely up to room temperature. Simulations of the three designs, namely a resonant phonon design, a two-well design, and a split-well direct-phonon design were investigated. The results from the simulations indicated that the two-well design would perform best overall, in terms of variations in current density, interface roughness, and ionized impurity scattering. We conclude that future research aiming to improve the temperature performance of such laser designs should be based on a two-well design.

Automated summary

The analysis of three different Terahertz quantum-cascade-laser designs showed that the two-well design performed best overall in terms of variations in current density, interface roughness, and ionized impurity scattering. Future research aiming to improve the temperature performance of such laser designs should focus on the two-well design.