Development of lead-chalcogenide mid-infrared light emitting devices.

Abstract

The research described by this dissertation has focused on the fabrication and design, for the improvement of lead chalcogenide lasers. The ultimate goal was to develop TE-cooled single-mode continuous wave Mid-IR laser for high resolution spectroscopic applications. Processing techniques and procedures as well as theoretical design have been successfully developed that could lead to high temperature single-mode continuous wave (CW) laser operation. Light emitting Pb-salt structures on BaF2 substrate has been examined. An antireflection coating material, for diode-pumped Pb-salt light emitters, that has enhanced room temperature continuous wave light emission has been described. A new surface preparation technology for epi-ready [110] oriented BaF2 substrates and a novel mounting technique for the fabrication of cleaved cavity Pb-salt laser grown on {110} BaF2 was developed. Lasing results from [110] oriented Pb-salt laser fabricated on PbSnSe substrate have been reported for the first time. Theoretical modeling of a Pb-Salt ridge waveguide laser for single lateral mode operation and the development of a fabrication process for the same has been described. A novel fabrication method of cleaved facet Pb-salt laser on as-grown metal substrate for high temperature operation of the device has been described.