Peltier cooled PbSe double-heterostructure lasers for IR-gas spectroscopy

PbS−PbSe−PbS double-heterostructure lasers have been pulse-operated at about 200 K mounted on 4 stage thermoelectric coolers. Emitting at a wavelength of about 5.5 μm they could be used for NO gas spectroscopy. Operation temperatures of up to 230 K have been achieved with structures consisting ofn-type PbS substrates and epitaxial layers ofn-type PbSe and Tl dopedp-type PbS. The temperature dependence of the threshold current density and the emission wavelength of these DH-lasers was compared with PbSe-homojunction lasers. The use of a germanium etalon for a quick evaluation of the spectral quality of the emitted radiation is described.