Simulating terahertz quantum cascade lasers: Trends from samples from different labs

Abstract

We present a systematic comparison of the results from our non-equilibrium Green's function formalism with a large number of AlGaAs-GaAs terahertz quantum cascade lasers previously published in the literature. Employing identical material and simulation parameters for all samples, we observe that discrepancies between measured and calculated peak currents are similar for samples from a given group. This suggests that the differences between experiment and theory are partly due to a lacking reproducibility for devices fabricated at different laboratories. Varying the interface roughness height for different devices, we find that the peak current under lasing operation hardly changes, so that differences in interface quality appear not to be the sole reason for the lacking reproducibility.

9 pages, 6 figures; section VI with 2 figures added in v2; accepted for publication in J. Appl. Phys

References in corpus (11)

• Nonequilibrium Green's function theory for transport and gain properties of quantum cascade structures
• On the Nature of Charge Transport in Quantum-Cascade Lasers
• Coherence of resonant-tunneling transport in terahertz quantum-cascade lasers
• A phonon scattering assisted injection and extraction based terahertz quantum cascade laser
• Density-matrix theory of the optical dynamics and transport in quantum cascade structures: The role of coherence
• Contrasting influence of charged impurities on transport and gain in terahertz quantum cascade lasers
• Comparative analysis of resonant phonon THz quantum cascade lasers
• Extraction-Controlled Quantum Cascade Lasers
• Nonequilibrium phonon effects in midinfrared quantum cascade lasers
• Simple electron-electron scattering in non-equilibrium Green's function simulations
• Terahertz quantum cascade lasers with thin resonant-phonon depopulation active regions and surface-plasmon waveguides

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Two-well quantum cascade laser optimization by non-equilibrium Green's function modelling
• Analysis of High Performing Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers
• Ignition of quantum cascade lasers in a state of oscillating electric field domains
• Domain formation and self-sustained oscillations in quantum cascade lasers
• Orthonormal and periodic levels for Quantum Cascade Laser simulation