PFI:AIR - TT: Advancement of Interband Cascade Lasers

这个PFI：空气技术转换项目专注于转换中红外(IR)带间级联(IC)激光技术，以满足识别和测量气体中特定分子浓度的仪器的需求。这些仪器的应用领域包括化学检测、温室气体/污染和管道监测、国土安全、工业过程控制和医疗诊断。IC激光器是紧凑型半导体光源，是传感器系统的使能部件，将中红外光的吸收与特定分子物种的存在相关联。该项目将导致演示和开发覆盖中红外波长范围广泛的高效IC激光光源。与这个市场领域的其他中红外激光器相比，这些IC激光器具有低功耗的优势。高效中红外集成电路激光器的问世将极大地增强化学传感能力，并有助于在全球部署传感器网络。该项目解决了与中红外半导体集成电路激光器相关的技术差距，因为该技术正在从研究发现转化为商业应用。高效的集成电路激光器主要是基于GaSb衬底在3到4微米的波长范围内开发的。该项目将开发基于InAs衬底的高效IC激光器，其波长范围为4至10微米，这是传统带间激光器无法达到的。这些基于InAs的IC激光器将能够在室温下以低功耗连续运行。该项目将使激光波长与目标分子在4至6微米范围内的基本吸收线相匹配。通过对器件结构的进一步创新，将进一步降低在室温下工作在连续波(CW)模式下的功耗。同时，对于工作在6到10微米的激光器，连续波工作温度将提高。为了达到这些长波长，基于InAs的等离子体波导需显著增强光限制，改善热耗散，并降低应变。通过精心设计的应变平衡结构和良好的生长参数控制，将实现高质量的InAs基集成电路激光器的外延结构。该项目与AdTech Optics合作，AdTech Optics是中红外激光制造领域的领先商业公司之一，拥有量子级联激光器的专业知识，以进一步推动InAs基带间级联激光器进入商业市场。AdTech Optics的参与将对解决可靠性、热管理、包装和产量问题特别有用。参与该项目的人员，包括一名博士后、两名研究生和至少三名本科生，将通过该大学商学院的创业项目、与AdTech Optics的互动以及参与研究和市场调查活动，获得创新、技术转移和创业经验。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating mid-infrared (IR) interband cascade (IC) laser technology to fill the need for instruments that identify and measure the concentration of specific molecules in a gas. Application areas for such instruments include chemical detection, greenhouse gas/pollution and pipeline monitoring, homeland security, industrial process control, and medical diagnostics. IC lasers are compact semiconductor light sources that are enabling components for sensor systems that correlate the absorption of mid-IR light with the presence of particular molecular species. This project will result in the demonstration and development of efficient IC laser sources that cover a wide range of mid-IR wavelengths. These IC lasers have the advantage of low power consumption when compared to other mid-IR lasers in this market space. The availability of efficient mid-IR IC lasers will dramatically enhance chemical sensing capabilities and help to deploy the sensor network globally. This project addresses the technology gap related to mid-IR semiconductor IC lasers as the technology translates from research discovery toward commercial application. Efficient IC lasers have been developed primarily based on GaSb substrates in the wavelength region from 3 to 4 microns. This project will develop efficient IC lasers based on InAs substrates in the wavelength region of 4 to 10 microns that conventional interband lasers have not been able to reach. These InAs-based IC lasers will be able to operate continuously with low power consumption at room temperature. The project will match the laser wavelengths to fundamental absorption lines of target molecules in the region of 4 to 6 microns. Through further innovation of the device structure, the power consumption will be further reduced for operation in the continuous wave (cw) mode at room temperature. In parallel, the cw operating temperature will be increased for lasers operating at 6 to 10 microns. To reach these long wavelengths, InAs-based plasmon waveguides are required to significantly enhance optical confinement, improve thermal dissipation, and reduce strain. With a carefully designed strain-balanced structure and good control of growth parameters, high-quality epitaxial structures will be achieved for InAs-based IC lasers.This project engages AdTech Optics, one of the leading commercial companies in mid-IR laser manufacturing with expertise in quantum cascade lasers, to further advance InAs-based interband cascade lasers into the commercial marketplace. The involvement of AdTech Optics will be particularly useful for addressing issues of reliability, thermal management, packaging, and yield. Personnel involved in this project, including one postdoc, two graduate students, and at least three undergraduate students, will gain innovation, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship experiences through the entrepreneurship program in the university's business college, interactions with AdTech Optics, and participation in the research and market survey activities.