Midinfrared surface-emitting PbSe/PbEuTe quantum-dot lasers

Midinfrared laser emission from self-organized PbSe quantum dots in a high- finesse vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser structure is reported. The s tructure was grown by molecular-beam epitaxy and consists of high reflectiv ity epitaxial EuTe/PbEuTe Bragg mirrors with a PbSe/Pb1-xEuxTe quantum-dot superlattice as the active region. Narrow laser emission at 4.2-3.9 mum ind uced by optical pumping is achieved at temperatures up to 90 K. The observa tion of simultaneous two-mode emission indicates a width of the inhomogeneo usly broadened PbSe dot gain spectrum of about 18 meV. (C) 2001 American In stitute of Physics.