Interband Cascade Lasers from a Historic Perspective to a Future Outlook

Efficient, reliable, and low-cost mid-infrared interband cascade lasers (ICLs) are needed to meet the growing demands of many useful applications such as chemical sensing, environmental and greenhouse gas monitoring, detection of pipe leaks and explosives, food safety, medical diagnostics, and indus...

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Main Authors: Rui Q. Yang, Michael B. Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/2/155
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author Rui Q. Yang
Michael B. Santos
author_facet Rui Q. Yang
Michael B. Santos
author_sort Rui Q. Yang
collection DOAJ
description Efficient, reliable, and low-cost mid-infrared interband cascade lasers (ICLs) are needed to meet the growing demands of many useful applications such as chemical sensing, environmental and greenhouse gas monitoring, detection of pipe leaks and explosives, food safety, medical diagnostics, and industrial process control. We review the developments and status of ICLs from a historic perspective, discuss the lessons learnt from experience, and suggest considerations for future research and development. This review endeavors to include the most representative aspects and activities of ICLs, but cannot possibly describe every contribution in the 30 years since the initiation of ICLs. We present an overall picture of the ICL architecture and connect the fundamental principle and underlying physics to future activities.
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spelling doaj-art-d5d3acfb34844d4c83f9195c9bce7e242025-08-20T02:44:32ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-02-0112215510.3390/photonics12020155Interband Cascade Lasers from a Historic Perspective to a Future OutlookRui Q. Yang0Michael B. Santos1School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USAHomer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USAEfficient, reliable, and low-cost mid-infrared interband cascade lasers (ICLs) are needed to meet the growing demands of many useful applications such as chemical sensing, environmental and greenhouse gas monitoring, detection of pipe leaks and explosives, food safety, medical diagnostics, and industrial process control. We review the developments and status of ICLs from a historic perspective, discuss the lessons learnt from experience, and suggest considerations for future research and development. This review endeavors to include the most representative aspects and activities of ICLs, but cannot possibly describe every contribution in the 30 years since the initiation of ICLs. We present an overall picture of the ICL architecture and connect the fundamental principle and underlying physics to future activities.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/2/155interband cascadequantum wellsemiconductor lasersmid-infraredheterostructure
spellingShingle Rui Q. Yang
Michael B. Santos
Interband Cascade Lasers from a Historic Perspective to a Future Outlook
Photonics
interband cascade
quantum well
semiconductor lasers
mid-infrared
heterostructure
title Interband Cascade Lasers from a Historic Perspective to a Future Outlook
title_full Interband Cascade Lasers from a Historic Perspective to a Future Outlook
title_fullStr Interband Cascade Lasers from a Historic Perspective to a Future Outlook
title_full_unstemmed Interband Cascade Lasers from a Historic Perspective to a Future Outlook
title_short Interband Cascade Lasers from a Historic Perspective to a Future Outlook
title_sort interband cascade lasers from a historic perspective to a future outlook
topic interband cascade
quantum well
semiconductor lasers
mid-infrared
heterostructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/2/155
work_keys_str_mv AT ruiqyang interbandcascadelasersfromahistoricperspectivetoafutureoutlook
AT michaelbsantos interbandcascadelasersfromahistoricperspectivetoafutureoutlook