Improved device performance of interband cascade lasers with hybrid cladding layers operating in the 3–4 µm wavelength region

In this work, we briefly review the development and status of interband cascade lasers (ICLs) as related to long-standing issues due to the InAs/AlSb superlattice cladding. By focusing on a hybrid cladding approach to alleviate these issues, we demonstrate substantially improved device performance of ICLs compared to earlier reported ICLs of a similar design in the 3–4 µm wavelength region. These improvements include a threshold current density for broad-area devices as low as 134 A/cm² at 300 K and reduced threshold voltage with a peak voltage efficiency of 80%, which is more than 10% higher than that obtained from previously reported ICLs. Moreover, we have demonstrated continuous wave (cw) operation of a broad-area device up to 278 K, the highest cw operating temperature among epi-side up mounted broad-area type-II ICLs, implying improved thermal dissipation with the hybrid cladding approach. Additionally, by conducting a comparative study of ICLs with different GaSb layer thicknesses in the hole injector, we reveal and discuss an interesting correlation between the carrier transport, threshold voltage, and hole-induced absorption loss, which may help to guide device optimization for operation in a targeted temperature range.