New Materials and Methods for Tunable Mid-Infrared Laser Fabrication

9802396 McCann本项目涵盖了在硅衬底上通过液相外延（LPE）和分子束外延（MBE）生长的IV-VI半导体层的生长、表征和加工，为改进中红外激光器提供材料科学基础。由于对温度有很大的带隙依赖，由IV-VI半导体制成的激光器在中红外区域具有几百个波数的调谐范围，3微米到20微米以上，其中大多数分子具有强吸收带。这种可调性是基于量子级联技术的中红外激光器的优势，并且使用提升制造方法对连续波工作温度的预期改善使IV-VI半导体成为增强中红外激光器性能的有吸引力的材料。本研究寻求对高度热膨胀错配外延层中的应变松弛的基本理解，这项工作可以导致在硅衬底上集成化合物半导体器件。它还有望导致新材料技术的发展，该技术可以显着提高中红外激光器的最高工作温度。该项目由DMR电子材料计划和EPSCoR计划共同支持。该项目涉及具有高潜在技术相关性的材料科学主题领域的基础研究问题。该研究将为电子/光子器件的新领域提供基础材料科学知识。从研究中获得的基本知识和理解有望通过为设计和生产改进的材料和材料组合提供基本的理解和基础，从而有助于提高先进设备的性能和稳定性。这项研究的一个直接好处是，它将使用户友好的中红外激光光谱仪的开发成为可能，该仪器可用于各种应用，包括空气污染监测，实时过程控制和医疗诊断。该计划的一个重要特点是通过培养学生在一个基础和技术上重要的领域的研究和教育的整合。＊＊＊

9802396 McCann This project covers the growth, characterization, and processing of IV-VI semiconductor layers grown by both liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on silicon substrates to provide the materials science basis for improvements in mid-IR lasers. Owing to a large band gap dependence on temperature, lasers made from IV-VI semiconductors have tuning ranges of several hundred wavenumbers in the mid-infrared region, 3 microns to over 20 microns, where most molecules have strong absorption bands. This tunability, an advantage over mid IR lasers based on quantum cascade technology, and the expected improvement in cw operating temperatures using lift-off fabrication methods make IV-VI semiconductors attractive materials for enhanced mid-IR laser performance. This research seeks fundamental understanding of strain relaxation in highly thermal expansion mismatched epitaxial layers, work that can lead to the integration of compound semiconductor devices on silicon substrates. It is also expected to lead to the development of a new materials technology that can dramatically improve maximum operating temperatures of mid-IR lasers. The project is co-supported by the DMR Electronic Materials Program and the EPSCoR program. %%% The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science having high potential technological relevance. The research will contribute basic materials science knowledge at a fundamental level to new aspects of electronic/photonic devices. The basic knowledge and understanding gained from the research is expected to contribute to improving the performance and stability of advanced devices by providing a fundamental understanding and a basis for designing and producing improved materials, and materials combinations. A direct benefit of this research is that it will enable the development of user friendly mid-IR laser spectrometers, instruments that can be used in a variety of applications includ ing air pollution monitoring, real-time process control, and medical diagnostics. An important feature of the program is the integration of research and education through the training of students in a fundamentally and technologically significant area. ***