High Performance Continuous Wave Quantum Cascade Lasers Immune to Output Facet Optical Damage

The development of Band IVb Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) with ultra-high spectral brightness and 1,000x output aperture size compared to that for traditional edge-emitting QCLs is proposed. The new devices will deliver over 20W of continuous wave (CW) power in a nearly diffraction limited beam (M2 < 1.5) with 20% efficiency. The dramatic increase in output aperture size will ensure long-term reliability at the record-high power level. Overall length of the proposed devices will be approximately 10mm, within its typical range for high power QCLs. The very high spectral brightness QCLs will be the cornerstone of compact DIRCM systems capable of addressing the emerging threats posed by the next generation heat-seeking missiles.