THERMAL MODELLING OF TERAHERTZ QUANTUM-CASCADE LASER BASED ON NANOHETEROSTRUCTURES GaAs/AlGaAs

Abstract

This work presents the result of a simulation of thermal processes in a terahertz quantum cascade laser (THz QCL) based on GaAs/AlGaAs nanoheterostructure with a bimetal waveguide. A simplified model of THz QCL was built. Model simplifications of THz QCL were justified. The temperature distribution and maximum temperature values in the active region were obtained for different duty cycles and for various active region sizes with proportional heat generation change. Different types of bonding of the active region and substrate were simulated. According to the results a conclusion about the optimal duty cycle and frequency for the pulse mode were formulated. The time-to-stationary mode for different pulse width was calculated. The maximum temperature gradient in THz QCL was calculated.

Keywords

• thz source
• terahertz quantum-cascade laser
• bimetal waveguide
• thermal modelling
• finite elements method
• heat distribution