Quantum cascade lasers transfer-printed on silicon-on-sapphire

We demonstrate coupling of the laser mode into a passive waveguide by transfer-printing fully processed mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers onto a silicon-on-sapphire platform. The laser waveguide mode is coupled into a silicon waveguide via an adiabatic taper. The experimentally achieved coupling efficiency of the taper is estimated to be similar to 10%, and theoretical calculations show that coupling efficiency over 75% is achievable by reducing the adhesive layer thickness to below 100 nm. Light coupling to silicon waveguides is confirmed by images taken at the output facet of a 3-mm-long passive Si waveguide with a mid-infrared camera. Our technique enables the development of heterogeneous photonic systems integrated with a wide range of fully processed semiconductor laser devices, including buried-heterostructure lasers, which was not previously possible. Published by AIP Publishing.