Tsekoun Alexei, Go Rowel, Pushkarsky Michael, Razeghi Manijeh, Patel C Kumar N
Pranalytica, Inc., 1101 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Mar 28;103(13):4831-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0600859103. Epub 2006 Mar 17.
We report substantially improved performance of high-power quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) by using epitaxial-side-down mounting that provides superior heat dissipation properties. We used aluminum nitride as the heatsink material and gold-tin eutectic solder. We have obtained continuous wave power output of 450 mW at 20 degrees C from mid-IR QCLs. The improved thermal management achieved with epitaxial-side-down mounting combined with a highly manufacturable and scalable assembly process should permit incorporation of mid-IR QCLs in reliable instrumentation.